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Book_l_£i43_I 
(kf^iiglitN^ 



coPnucHT Di:^sjr. 



K 



A REPORT 



OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE 



CELEBHA-TIOlSr 



Off THE FIRST 



CENTENNIAL ANNIVEESAEY 



OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE 



TOWN OF BUXTON, MAINE, 



HELD AT BUXTON, AUG. 14, 1872. 



Being a fpll account of the exercises of the day— HistobicaIj Address 
Oration, Poem, Toasts, and Letters received relating thereto, 
with an Appendix, containing genealogical sketches of the 
pioneers of the town, and a list of the Revolution- 
ary Soldiers from Buxton, as far as can be 
ascertained. 



/ 



BY J. M:. TvI-A^RSHA-LIL. 



PORTLAND: 

DRKSSIUR., MioLELLA^N & CO. 

1874. 







COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. 

J. O. A. HARMON, 
SAMUEL HANSON, 
MARK P. EMERY, 
A. K. P. MESERVE, 
J. M. MARSHALL. 



B. THURSTON & COMPANY, PRINTBBS, POBTIAND. 



PREFACE. 



A DUE regard to the claims of posterity has suggested the pro- 
priety of recording the manner in which the people of Buxton 
commemorated the one hundredth hirth-day of her incorporation ; 
to tell how the spirit of veneration was re-kindled and became a 
common impulse with the children near and distant; with what 
alacrity and harmony, all, who claimed kindred or birth-right 
among them, turned aside from the demands of business and 
haunts of pleasure, and, immolating every social and political dif- 
ference upon the altar of old affection, found new enjoyment in 
the fact, that men can think alike concerning the place of their 
nativity. Doubtless there are periods in every life, when the 
mind loves better than anything else, to go back over the scenes 
of childhood, to hold in memory the sweetness of its halcyon days, 
and gather about itself the mouldering relics that link together the 
pageant of the past; so let this at least pass to the credit of our 
own time, that the future antiquarian may pursue his researches 
even for the simple annals of this locality, with a degree of cer- 
tainty and satisfaction not to be obtained from the incoherent 
fragments which trad'tion alone may furnish. 

It is the purpose of this little volume, not only to sketch in the 
history of a'day what was done by the natives and residents of 
Buxton out of their common regard to this anniversary, in the 
preparation, proceedings, and occui*rences thereat, but to preserve 
in material form for the contemporary, and to carry forward to the 
future reader a substantial part of the town's early history which 
the able historian has furnished; to perpetuate the words of trib- 
ute that fell from the lips of the orator and the other speakers of 
the da}'^; and add to them the glimpses of earlier life, and delinea- 
tion of character, as they have come down to us sketched and 
adorned by the poet's pen. j. M. M. 

Buxton, Dec. 24, 1872. 



CENTENNIAL EXERCISES. 



It may be said to have been the suggestion of the lament- 
ed Capt. William F. Goodwin, that the Buxton people should 
pay due reverence to their mother town at this ripe period of 
her years, and the inspiration, which the zeal of former resi- 
dents was creating, made it a duty all the more imperative 
and of certain consequence to the citizens themselves. 

At the annual town meeting in March, 1872, it was voted 
to observe the one hundredth anniversary of the date of the 
act of incorporation of the town, which would occur on the 
fourteenth of July, with exercises and ceremonies appropriate 
to the event. That day of the month of the present year 
occurring on Sunday, the time for celebration was not deter- 
mined at this meeting, and the whole matter of time, place, 
and character of the exercises was entrusted to a committee 
of the Selectmen and eleven other citizens, whose names are 
as follow: James O. A. Harmon, Moses G. Hill, Daniel 
Townsend, Selectmen ; Abram L. Came, George Carll, Sam- 
uel Hanson, Stephen H. Berry, Gerry Rounds, Jr., Samuel 
S. Milliken, Phineas Harmon, John Milliken, Richard Palm- 
er, Albion K. P. Meserve, and Jonathan Martin. J. M. 
Marshall was chosen Corresponding Secretary. This com- 
mittee met for the first time at the office in the Town House, 
on the afternoon of the 27th of April, and selected Buxton 
Lower Corner, for the place, and the fourteenth of August 
as the time, for celebrating the event. 

The order of exercises substantially as they were carried 
out was also then and there agreed upon, as follows : Cannon 
salute at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset ; assembling on the 
Common in front of the old Congregational Church, to form 
a procession, to have a free collation, and literary exercises 



b BTJXTON CENTENiaAL. 

at a bower or tent, with instrumental and vocal music, and a 
parade of ancient militia men, if possible. 

This meeting was adjourned to the eleventh day of May, 
when it was decided to clioose an executive committee of 
three to take special charge of the work and carry forward 
the general plan ; and James O. A. Harmon, Albion K. P. 
Meserve, and J. M. Marshall were chosen as such. 

Subscription books to procure funds were put in circula- 
tion, and the Secretary issued the following invitation card, 
which was sent to towns and cities in nearly every State in 
the Union, wherever a son or daughter resided, as well as to 
the homes of the citizens resident : — 



1772. 



1872, 




The present year mai-ks the lapse of a century from the time when Bnx- 
ton became mcorporated as a town, in the County of York, and District of 
Maine. 

The citizens, at their last annual meeting in March, voted to give due 
observance to the event of this anniversary, with appropriate 

^emanstraiian, ^cfjtivitJ, mid ^itentrtj ^xcrchcB, 

that tills Centennial period and landmark in her history might not pass 
unnoticed. 

Therefore, the committee selected to act in this matter, in the name of the 
citizens of Buxton, hereby cordially invite all the sous and daughters and 
former residents of the town, to unite with them on 



wi©i^ise)CT. ^nd^^T t4, «i? 



>« 



IBTJXTOIV LOllVTi:!! COrtTSTI^Tl, 

to take part in a social reunion — renew the bonds of friendship, and live 
over agiiiu the memories of bygoue days. 



J. O. A. HARMON, 
MOSKS G. HILL, 
DANIKL TOWNSEND, 
A. L. CAME,^ 
GEORGE CARLL, 



com:m:itte;ic. 

SAMUEL HANSON, 
STEPHEN H. BERRY, 
GERKY ROUNDS, Jn., 
S. S. MILLIKEN, 
PHINEAS HARMON, 



RICHARD PALMER, 
A. K. r. ME8Ei;VE, 
JOHN MILLIKKN, 
JONATHAN MARTIN, 



J. M. MABSHAZL, 

CORRESrONDINQ SUCBJETABT. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 7 

The call met with responses from various sections of the 
country, and many interesting letters were received, both 
from those accepting the invitation and from others regretting 
their inability to be present, but all giving assurance of their 
sympathy and happiest recollections of the old town. Among 
the latter were those from Hon. Isaac Emery, of Boston, 
Hon. John P. Hale, ex-Senator from New Hampshire, ex- 
Gov. Samuel Merrill, of Iowa, Charles R. Brewster, Esq., 
of Charleston, South Carolina, Nathan Elden, Esq., of Vine- 
land, New Jersey, &c., &c. 

Outside of the town the people had caught the spirit, and 
the coming event had created quite a lively interest. The 
Buxton-born residents of Saco and Biddeford held a meeting 
at the York counting-room, and resolved to furnish a band 
of music for the occasion, and attend in a body. 

The Mechanic Blues and Light Infantry — military compa- 
nies of Portland — upon an invitation of the committee, very 
generously gave their attendance in full uniform, to grace 
the occasion with parade and escort. 

In addition to the provisions purchased by the committee, 
contributions came in from many families in town, as well as 
from Hollis, in sufficient quantities to load twelve tables, each 
one hundred feet in length. 

On Monday, the 12th of August, the citizens from all 
parts of the town rallied to commence in earnest the work 
of erecting the bower. This was an immense frame, con- 
structed of joist and boards, two hundred feet in length and 
one hundred and twenty feet wide, and covered partly with 
sails and partly with boughs. The ladies, no less busy, were 
washing dishes and arranging them for the tables ; and not 
until late in the afternoon of the 13th was the bower com- 
pleted and the tables in order. 



O BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

THE DAY. 

The previous day had been damp and cloudy, and just 
before niohtfall a lieavy rain set in casting a gloom over the 
faces of the expectant citizens, already wearied with the 
efforts of the day. But the sun rose clear on the morn of 
the fourteenth, and the peal of the cannon, ringing out on 
the morning air, startled the sleepers with its foreign mnsic 
and ushered in the festal day. From all parts of Buxton 
and the towns adjoining, people were gathering at an early 
hour. The 8.15 train on the Portland & Rochester R. R. 
came in with its cars filled with visitors, and the Portland 
Mechanic Blues, under the command of Capt. Leavitt, and 
the Light Infantry, under the command of Lieut. Todd, dis- 
embarked from the cars, formed into line at the depot, and, 
led by its drum corps and the Bar Mills brass band, escorted 
the procession to the grounds, about one mile and a quarter 
distant from the depot. They arrived on the common in 
front of the church just as the Saco and Biddeford delega- 
tion, nearly two thousand in number, with some five hundred 
horses, in an unbroken column of over a mile in length, were 
entering the village, led by the full brass band of Dover. 
The meeting of these processions on the already crowded 
common was a spectacle long to be remembered. To the 
older portion of the assembly it mirrored back the muster 
scenes of a generation just passed, and revealed an era of 
new possibilities to the uprisen yeomanry of Buxton. The 
cordial welcome, the hearty hand-shaking by old friends 
meeting after long separation, the sudden appearance of 
familiar faces that had become almost forgotten, the rich 
martial music of the bands, and showy uniforms and polished 
muskets of the military, so thrilled that restless, buoyant 
mass as almost to baffle every attempt of the chief marshal 
to call them to order, form the procession, and thus inaugu- 
rate the programme of the day. 

At length, at half past nine, order reigned and the proces- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 9 

sion was formed. The chief marshal, Gerry Rounds, Jr., 
supported on either side by aids Capt. Joseph Davis and Capt. 
Stephen H. Berry, Thomas Tarbox, John B. Bradbury, and 
George H. Libby, with a platoon of sixteen citizen police, 
took up the line of march ; then followed the Dover cornet 
band with the Infantry and Mechanic Blues ; then the Bar 
Mills brass band leading the Buxton veterans of the late 
war under the command of Capt. Joseph F. Warren ; then 
the municipal officers of the town, with the historian, orator, 
and other speakers of the day, present and past clergymen 
of the town, members of the Biddeford Choral Union and 
other choirs, invited guests and former citizens, resident citi- 
zens and strangers generally. In this order the procession 
moved towards the " Coliseum " in the field of Mrs. Mary 
Ann Woodman, north-west of the Congregational (^hurcli 
and the cemetery. Here at the main entrance was erected 
an arch, with -its pillars entwined with bands of evergreen 
and flowers, surmounted at the top with evergreen having a 
border of crimson flowers, underneath which, and spanning 
the entire breadth of the arch was a semi-circular scroll of 
canvas with the inscription, — painted in plain large letters, — 
" Buxton Welcomes her Sons and Daughters." The 
military companies entered the field, opened to right and 
left, and the procession advanced to the " Coliseum." Tlie 
first half of this formed the audience-room, and was provided 
with seats sufficient to accommodate four thousand ; in front 
of which was erected the speakers' stand or platform ; imme- 
diately behind this rose a tier of seats for the bands and the 
choirs. The rear half of the building was appropriated to 
the tables, which were loaded with substantial food, and free 
to all. Upon the platform were the chairman of the com- 
mittee, selectmen of the town, and several distinguished vis- 
itors, among whom was Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain, 
ex-Governor of Maine. 

The assembly was called to order by J. O. A. Harmon, 



10 BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 

the president of the day, with a few appropriate remarks. 
The Biddeford Choral Union and other choirs, conducted by 
their skillful leader, R. M. Hobbs, of Biddeford, then sung 
" Home, Sweet Home," the bands accompanying in the 
chorus. 

The Rev. Joseph Bartlett, of South New Market, N. H., 
for twenty years pastor of the South Congregational church 
in Buxton, then pronounced the invocation : 

O Lord, we adore Thee as the King eternal, immortal, 
invisible, the only wise God, King of kings and Lord of lords. 
Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Be- 
fore the mountains were brought forth or ever Thou hadst 
formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting Thou art 
God. A thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday, 
when it is past and as a watch in the night. We spend our 
years as a tale that is told — our life is a vapor that vanisheth 
away. But Thou, amid the changing years and generations, 
art ever the same. 

We, the children gathered beneath the shadow of the tem- 
ple where the fathers worshiped, near the resting-place where 
their dust is sleeping, ask Thy blessing ; may it rest upon 
the day and the occasion. We thank Thee that they open so 
auspiciously ; we thank Thee for these fair and dear scenes, 
for the remembrances and associations they awaken, for their 
friendly and affectionate greeting, for this great and joyful 
gathering of sons and daughters to the old home. Bless 
those who shall speak and those who shall hear ; may their 
words, recalling the labors, sacrifices, and achievements of 
the fathers, instruct us and stimulate to better and nobler 
lives. May every manly and womanly virtue, every labor of 
love for God and man, be an example for us, a lesson to be 
carried out in our own lives and character. May the Book 
which they reverenced, and which was the inspiration of 
whatever was right in them, be the Lamp to our feet and the 
Light to our path. May we all be the true disciples of our 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 11 

Lord Jesus Christ, by oitr personal acceptance of Him, ©ur 
living faith in Him, our true repentance, our loving obedience. 
Cleanse us from our sins by His blood shed for their remis- 
sion. Bestow upon us the influence of the Holy Spirit to 
renew a right Spirit in us, to guide us into all truth and duty, 
to right lives and peaceful deaths. Give us this day our daily 
bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; and 
what we ask for ourselves we ask for our brothers and sisters 
who stand not here with us to-day, but who are with us in 
spirit; make. them sharers with us in the blessings and hopes 
of the Gospel, and bring them with us at last to the heavenly 
home. All which we ask for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 

At the close of the prayer the choir sung the Star-spangled 
Banner, the bands accompanying, Miss Sarah Jose, of Brook- 
lyn, rendering a solo of the last verse with fine effect. 

The president of the day then inti'oduced Joseph Bunnell, 
of Buxton, with the few following remarks : 

Sons and Daughters of Buxton : It affords me infinite 
pleasure to meet you, who have gone out from the shadow of 
your old roof-trees, and made your homes in distant lands. 
Welcome back to the old parental homestead, to the joys, 
pleasures, and recollections of the hearth-stones of your 
younger days — place of your birth and land of your fathers. 

I will now introduce to you one, who, in more fitting terms 
and appropriate thoughts, will express to you the satisfaction 
felt by all at your presence here, Joseph Dunnell, of Buxton. 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY JOSEPH DUNNELL. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, native and adopted 
Sons and Daughters of Buxton, Brothers and Sisters of a. 
common parentage : We hail with peculiar pleasure 3'our 
presence among us to-day, and in behalf of the residents of 
Buxton we bid you welcome, thrice welcome to our hearts, 
to the hospitalities of our homes, and to the festivities and 
enjoyments of the day we celebrate. 



12 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

From the time you went out from us to enter upon the 
sterner duties of mature manhood and womanhood until the 
present, it has afforded us great pleasure to hear from time 
to time of your success in the varied pursuits of life, and your 
lionorable achievement m all that relates to human greatness. 
We have watched with maternal interest your onward march 
along the rugged paths to still higher positions of influence 
and power, to which, by patient continuance in well-doing, 
you were justly entitled, and now after a lapse of years we 
meet in one great brotherhood and sisterhood on this festal 
day, around this festive board, to exchange words of comfort 
and cheer, to inquire of each other's Avelfare, and to renew 
the acquaintances of our youthful days, and with becoming 
veneration to pay our devotions to the memory of our fathers 
and mothers, by whose hardships and privations, by whose 
toils and anxieties, and by whose prayers we were trained 
and disciplined for the varied responsibihties of after-life. I 
see before me one great family of sons and daughters, among 
whom are men and women of hoary hairs, cotemporaries with 
our fathers and mothers ; to you, this day is fraught with pe- 
cuhar interest ; also, the men and women in the prime and 
vigor of manhood and womanhood, upon whose shoulders rest 
the honors and emoluments of this busy life ; the young men 
and the maidens and the children too, Qod bless them ; to 
each and all of you I say, welcome home, thrice welcome ; 
and I know I utter the common sentiment of all, when I say 
we are right glad to see you, and more than that, we thank 
you for your presence, and let us lay aside all unnecessary 
thought of the past or anxieties for the future, and blend our 
svmpathies and oiir interests, and recognize the great frater- 
nity of which we are composed, compare notes with each 
other, talk of the future, and thus make this day an oasis in 
the pilgrimage of life. Aye, let gladness rule the hour, let 
joy be unconfined. 

At the close of the salutation the choir sung " The dearest 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 13 

spot on earth to me is home, sweet home," after which the 
President introduced the Historian of the day, as follows : 

I now have the pleasure of introducing to you one who has 
acquired for himself honor and reputation in the old mother 
State, Hon. Cyrus Woodman, of Cambridge, Mass. 



TO THE READER. 



I would forewarn all persons who have not some special 
interest in the history of Buxton, that this discourse is not 
worth their reading. Indeed, so little is there of interest in 
it, that I feel like offering an apology for allowing it to go 
into print. Having, however, consented to deliver it, I can 
hardly refuse the request of the committee, who have asked 
it for publication. 

The want of interest will be found to be due partly to the 
writer, partly to the common-place events which he narrates, 
and partly to the fact that the actors in those events were 
none of them great or remarkable men. 

It is a somewhat difficult task to prepare an historical dis- 
course on so bald a subject, which will interest a popular 
audience, and at the same time be of any permanent value. 
In the delivery, I thought it best to incur the risk, the cer- 
tainty, I may say, of being tedious, rather than to fail of 
giving a clear idea of the course of events during the period 
under consideration. 

Wiiat will here be found is what I delivered, and more. 
In order to give to it all the value which the subject admits, I 
have so enlarged the address delivered as to make it, as it now 
reads, a careful summary of the history of Buxton prior to the 
incorporation of the town. Indeed, it is, substantially, the 
story of all that is known relating to the town before that 
time ; ^ and as such I submit it with diffidence to those who 



^ p. S. I should qualify this remark by saying that I know nothing of the histoiy of 
the grant of the " Seven Hundred acres " to " Hill and others." The facts in regard to 
this grant, which preceded the grant of the town to the Narraganset soldiers, can 
probably be ascertained by investigation. 1 should also say that in my discourse I do 
not undertake to give the individual history of the early settlers. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 16 

have an interest in the subject. Whoever would look more 
closely into the history of the period under review, can do so 
by consulting the Proprietors' Records, and the accompanying 
documents, edited by Capt. Goodwin, and to which I have 
referred as Goodwin's Narraganset.^ That book, so far as I 
know, is the most valuable one yet printed for those who would 
study the life of our New England towns, while yet in their 
infancy, and before arriving at that maturity which entitles 
them to enter upon the exercise of the functions bestowed by 
an act of incorporation. 

In the Appendix will be found notices of most of those 
families whose names I had occasion to mention in the course 
of my address. I have neither the time nor the patience 
necessary to extend similar notices to other families. In these 
notices many of the descendants of those named will find facts 
about their families of which they are ignorant. Ignorance 
of family history is general throughout the town. It is to be 
hoped that it will grow less in the future. 

Each family in town should know, and by print save and 
perpetuate its own history, at least that portion of it which 
belongs to Buxton. If what I have done, as shown in the 
appendix, shall promote this object, then the profitless and 
thankless labor which I have performed to this end will not 
be in vain. 

Both in my address and in the appendix I have taken great 
care to be accurate, but notwithstanding all my care, errors 
will doubtless be found, which, I trust, will be corrected by 
those who may follow me in this field of labor. Only those 
who have been engaged in similar work can appreciate the 
time and pains bestowed upon these few pages, and they are 
those who will most readily pardon my errors and forgive my 
shortcomings. 



1 For copies of i/his volume apply to Miss Martha R. Goodwin, of Concord, N. H., or 
to the York Institute, Saco, Maine. 



16 BUXTON CENTEOTOAJL. 

The good work which Capt. Goodwin began, by the vol- 
ume he prepared and had pi'inted, would have been followed 
by the printing of the first volume of the Town Records, and 
other official papers of that period, if he had lived. He had 
already made some progress in the work when death inter- 
rupted it. It would have brought our history into the first 
years of the present century, and, from authentic documents, 
would have given us an account of the honorable part which 
this town took in the war of the revolution, and of the names 
of those who were engaged in it. I hope that some one will 
come forward to complete the work which he began. I do 
not propose to do it myself, but shall, so far as I can, gladly 
aid and encourage any person who is competent to the task. 

Cykus Woodman. 

Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 25, 1873. 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



Fellow Townsmen, Bleu and Women of Buxton : 

When, on the 21st of May last, the commmittee which 
has this clay's celebration in charge requested me to deliver 
an historical address, I replied that I was about leaving for 
the west, and should not have time to prepare one worthy of 
this centennial anniversary ; and besides, that under the ex- 
pectation of listening to a brilliant oration from the distin- 
guished gentleman who honors us with his presence on this 
occasion, the audience would hardly care to listen to any 
poor words of mine. 

I said, however, that if, when the day should come, it 
should seem best to the committee to call upon me to address 
you, I should, as a loyal Buxtonian, feel obliged to obey the 
call so far as to make such remai'ks upon the early history of 
the town as the time and the circumstances might permit. 

Since receiving the invitation of the committee I have 
made two long journeys to the west ; so that for the first 
two months following the invitation I had no opportunity to 
make any preparation for this discourse. 

On returning home, I wrote to the committee, saying that 
in the short interval which still remained, I should find it 
impossible to prepare even a brief address which I could 
hope would be acceptable to you and worthy of the occasion ; 
and that for this and other, and as it seemed to me valid rea- 
sons, which I gave, I asked to be excused from appearing 
before you to-day. 

The committee declined to excuse me. If, therefore, you 
shall find my address crude and bearing the marks of hasty 

B 



18 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

preparation, and if it shall fall in your estimation beneath 
what you have a ri^ht to expect and what the subject de- 
mands, I hope that the circumstances of which I have spoken 
will palliate, if they do not excuse, my shortcomings ; and 
that you will let the blame rest not alone upon my poor head, 
but partly, at least, upon the committee which has placed me 
in this undesired, though honorable, position. 

Under these circumstances I now appear before you, and 
must beg your kind indulgence while I recount some of the 
events of by-gone days. ' 

But, before doing so, I wish to express the deep sorrow I 
feel that death has deprived us of the presence of one who, of 
all men, was the best acquainted with the history of our 
town, and the most competent to hold the place which I now 
occupy. If he had lived he would have given you an his- 
torical address which would have been a model of its kind, 
and of which this town would have been proud. 

But though he is, alas ! not with us to-day, yet he lived to 
carry through the press a volume relating to the early history 
of Buxton, which will carry his name down to remote gen- 
erations, and which will be recognized by all competent 
judges as a monument of faithful and well directed labor for 
the preservation of our early history. 

I venture to say, that in this volume, and in the valuable 
historical map ^ published last year by your intelligent and 
worthy townsman, Mr. Daniel Dennett,^ which, though so 
little appreciated now that he has not sold a copy, is yet sure 
to cause his name to be remembered with honor : in this vol- 
ume and map, I say, and in the records of the church during 
the pastorate of Dr. Coffin, printed in 1868, a broader, surer, 
and more permanent foundation of printed material has been 
laid for the history of this town than has yet been laid by any 
other town in the United States. 



1 See Appendix BB. » See Appendix X. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 19 

Capt. Goodwin enlisted when the late rebellion broke out, 
as a lieutenant in the regular arm}^ and at the battle of 
Chickamauga fell by a severe wound, from the eftoct of 
Avhich he never recovered. 

That battle-field drank the warm blood from his veins, and 
the wound which he received never failed to remind him of 
its existence ; but it pained him less, when, proud and happy, 
he received a commission as captain by brevet, for gallant 
and meritorious services in that bloody fight. Yet I doubt 
whether he had more pride and satisfaction in this testimonial 
of a grateful country to his valor than he had in the volume 
to which I have alluded. 

His death was a great loss to this town, for, much as he 
had already done for its history, without any hope of pecuni- 
ary reward, he would, had he lived, have done yet more to 
entitle himself to the honor and gratitude of the people of 
Buxton. 

Buxton owes its origin and settlement to the Avar with the 
Narraganset Indians, which, after great disasters to the col- 
onists, culminated in the destruction of the power of that 
tribe, by the bloody victory over them which was won in 
December, 1675. 

The troops which in that year were gathered to destroy, 
once for all, the power of the Narragansets, were promised by 
the government, on Dedham Plain, " that if they played the 
man, took the Fort & Drove the Enemy out of the Narragan- 
set Country, which was their great Seat, that they should 
have a gratuity in Land besides their Wages." 

The promise then made remained unftilfilled for more than 
fifty-seven years. After many vexatious delays, and after 
the greater part of those who were engaged in the fight had 
ceased to live, the act of April 26, 1733, was passed, by virtue 
of which our town of Buxton became the property of Phile- 

NoTE. — The suggestion of this Centeunial Anniversary was, I suppose, first made by 
Capt. Goodwin. He died at Concord, N. H., March 12, 1872. 



20 BUXTON CENTEKNIAJL. 

moil Dane of Inswich, and of one hundred and nineteen 
other persons. 

Tliis act reads as follows : " Ordered " that " Major Chand- 
ler M^ Edward Shove Coll : Tho* Tilestone M' John Hobson 
& M' Samuel Chandler (or any three of them) be a Comm*" 
fully authorized & impoM'ered to Survey & lay out five more 
Tracts of Land for Townships, of the Contents of Six miles 
Square each, in some of the unappropriated Lands of this 
province & y' s*^ Lands (together with the two Towns before 
granted), be granted and disposed of to the Officers & Sol- 
diers who were in the Narraganset War, or to their lawful 
Represent''*^ as they are or have been allowed b}^ this Court 
being Eight Hundred & forty in number in the whole, and is 
in full Satisfaction of the Grant formerly made them by the 
General Court as a reward for their publick Service ; and the 
Grantees shall be obliged to Assemble within a short Time 
as they can conveniently, not exceeding the Space of two 
months & proceed to the Choice of Comm'"' respectively to 
regulate Each Propriety or Township wh*^*^ is to be held & 
enjoyed by One Hundred & twenty of the Grantees each & 
in equal proportion who shall pass such Orders & Rules as 
shall effectually oblige them to Settle Sixty Families at least 
within each Township with a learned orthodox Minister 
within the space of Seven Years from the Date of this Grant, 
Provided alwa^'s that if the said Grantees shall not Effect- 
ually settle the s"* Number of Families in Each Township & 
also lay out a Lot for y® first Settled Minister one for the 
Ministry & one for the School in Each of the said Townships, 
they shall have no Advantage of, but forfeit their respective 
Grants, anything to the Contrary contained Notwithstanding; 
the Charge of the Survey to be paid by the province." 

I have quoted nearly the whole of this act in order to show 
by what authority and under what conditions this town was 
settled. Tins act is the basis on which rests the title of all 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. ^i 

land in this town, except that portion which was formerly 
known as the "seven hundred acre tract." 

In compliance with this act, a general meeting of the gran- 
tees of the seven townships, which had been granted to the 
Narraganset soldiers, was held in Boston, on Boston Common, 
it is said, on the sixth day of June, 1733. At this time com- 
mittees were appointed for regulating the affairs of the several 
townships, and " Philemon Dane ^ & others were appointed 
a Committee for regulating Ipswich Society &c so called," 
which society represented one hundred and twenty of the 
soldiers who were in the Narraganset war. 

The first meeting of this society was held " at the House 
of Capt Joseph Hale in Newbury falls " August 1, 1733. 
The townships for this society had not then been selected, 
but " at the above Said meeting Joseph Gerish Esq'' John 
Hobson & John Gains was Chosen a Committee to vew Sora 
of the unappropreated Lands of this Province in order to 
Pitch a place for one Township for the Said Soldiers " 

What action was taken by this committee does not appear ; 
but from the fact that on the plan of Nov. 23, 1733 (herein- 
after mentioned) a brook is marked " Gains is Brook," and 
from the fact that £4: was afterwards voted to Mr. John 
Gains for his service " in vewing the Narraganset Township 
Eastward of Saco River," it may well be inferred that he 
and also Mr. Jonathan Fellows, to whom a like sum was voted 
at the same time and for the same reason, were here on the 
business of this committee, say between August 1 and No- 
vember 1, 1733. It may also well be inferred that their re- 
port was favorable, and that it was adopted by the Society. 

Acting probably upon the recommendation or under the 

. direction of the Ipswich Society, Edward Shove, Thomas 

Tileston, John Hobson, and Samuel Chandler, the committee 



1 In Felt's History of Ipswich, the death of Doct. Philemon Dean is noted in 1717, 
and he is stated to have had a son Philemon. This son Philemon Dean and our Phil- 
emon Dane was the same person, as I learn, beyond reasonable doubt. 



Lli BUXTON CEKTENNIAL. 

named in the act just recited, laid out two townships for the 
Narraganset soldiers between Saco river and Presumpscot 
river. 

They made a plat of these townships, and upon the plat 
wrote a report of their doings. I discovered a copy of this 
plat and report among the files of the Supreme Court of 
Massachusetts. The original plat and report are not known 
to be in existence, and as no copy of either has ever been 
published, I beg leave to read the report, which is as follows : 

" This Plat describes two Tracts of Land laid out for the 
Narraganset Soldiers between Saco River and Presumpscott 
River, containing the contents of Six Mile Square in each 
Plat with the Allowance of Seven Hundred acres formerly 
granted to Hill & others in that Township next Saco River 
& thirteen Hundred acres for Ponds, and in the Township 
joining to Presumpscott River there is allowance for five 
Hundred acres granted to Tyng & others and twelve Hun- 
dred acres for Ponds, and the s*^ Plans are bounded and de- 
scribed as followeth beginning at Saco River at the Head of 
Biddeford^ [Saco] & runs Northeast by the Needle twelve 
Miles by the head of Biddeford^ [Saco] & Scarborough & 
Falmouth till it comes to Presumpscott River & then bounded 
by Presumpscott River & runs up the same till it makes 
Seven Miles and one Quarter of a Mile on Straight Course 
North 33^ West and then runs 9 miles and 50 Rods South 
W-t by the Needle till it comes to Saco River & then bounds 
Southwesterly by Saco River till it [comes] to the Head of 
Biddeford afores** and [the] line between the two Townships 
begins on the Line next the Head of the Townships Seven 
Miles and one Quarter of a mile to the Northeast of Saco 
River & s** Line runs North 33"^ West by the Needle extend- 



1 The name Saco covered both sides of the river until 1718. lu that year the name 
Bidduford was given to both sides by an act of the General Court. In 1762 that part 
of Biddefoivl lying on the east side of Saco river was incorporated into a town by the 
name of rcpperrell borough, in honor of Sir William Tepperrell; which name was 
changed to iiaco in 1805. 



BUXTON CENTEKNIAL. 



23 



ing Seven Miles and one quarter of a mile and these two 

Townships was surveyed by Samuel Sewall and Benjamin 

Stone who were sworn for [the] work before Justice Gray. 

Dated 23'^ of Nov/ 1733. 

Edward Shove, '^ 

Thomas Tileston, ! ^ ... „ 

V Committee. 
John Hobson, i 

Samuel Chandler, j 

In February, 1733-4, the above recited report of the com- 
mittee was read in the Council and House of Representa- 
tives, and it was then 2 "Ordered that these Plans be ac- 
cepted, & that the Lands set forth in the Plat Number One 
be and hereby are confirmed unto One hundred & twenty of 
the Original Grantees, their Heirs & assigns : viz, that So- 
ciety of them of which Philemon Dane & others were ap- 
pointed a Committee for regulating Ipswich Society &c so 
called at a General meeting of the Grantees in Boston, the 
Sixth of June last, as by the Grantees Votes & Orders may 
appear Provided the Plat contains no more than the Con- 
tents of Six miles Square of the unappropriated Land (ex- 
clusive of the former Grants & allowances within mentioned) 
& that it does not interfere with any former Grant." This 
act passed the House Feb. 9th, the Council Feb. 11th, and 
was consented to by Governor Belcher Feb. 22, 1733-4.^ 

From this last named day dates the separate legal existence 
of Narraganset No. 1, now Buxton. On that day Philemon 
Dane and his one hundred and nineteen associates became 
the legal proprietors of this town. 

Having thus acquired their title to this township, the first 



NOTB. — Tlie surveyors above named and the chainraen, viz.: John Smith, John Bag- 
shaw, * John Smith, Joshua Hilton, and Lieut. John Stackpole were sworn to a faith- 
ful discharge of their duties at Biddeford on the 20th of Nov.' 1733, before John Gray, 
Justice of the Peace. 

* This name is repeated. 

2 This is quoted from Goodvrin's Narraganset, page 25. There are slight discrepancies 
between it and the copy found ou the plan. 

3 So the datea appear on the plat mentioned. 



24 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

step taken by the proprietors thereafter was to cause a por- 
tion of it to be surveyed into lots ; and at a meeting held 
March 19, 1734-5, a committee " was Chosen & Impowared 
to Lay out one hundred & Twenty three Lots in Said Town- 
ship no Lot to Exceed Twenty acres." 

The committee then chosen seems not to have acted, for, 
on the 15th of October, 1735, a new committee was chosen 
for the purpose, namely, John Hobson, Samuel Chase, Phil- 
emon Dane, Capt. William Elsley, and Deacon James Chute. 

At a proprietors' meeting, held Nov, 17, 1735, a report 
signed by all the members of this committee except Capt. 
Elsley, together with a plan of the lots, M^as submitted and 
accepted, and the report recorded. 

This meeting was adjourned until the 24th of November, 
in the aforesaid year, 1735. 

On that day the lots so laid out by this committee were 
distributed among the proprietors by dravving therefor. 

On that day, therefore, the ownership of lands in this 
town by individuals began. The lot on which the meeting- 
house stands, being lot No. 2 of range E, was drawn by 
John Hobson, on the right of his father, John Hobson. 
These are, I presume, the ancestors of all the Hobsons who 
have lived in this town.^ 

This was the first of the four divisions into which the 
town was, at different times, surveyed, and the lots of this 
division were commonly called " Home Lots " by the early 
settlers. 

In this division, lot 28 ^ of range C was drawn for or as- 
signed to the first minister. It came into the possession of 
Rev. Paul Coffin, and was by him sold to Joshua Kimball 
in 1797, who sold it to Capt. Joel Marshall. 



'John Hobson and his wife Dorcas, of Tlowlcy, on tho 7th of Februaiy, 1738-9, sold 
to Samuel r>r;ij,'don, Jr., of York, one rifjht or share in this town, " & is tlie saino Right 
that was granted on the right of Johu Uobsou, dcceaaed." lie owned other lauda in 
this town. 

» See Dennett's Map. ^ See Appendix A. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 25 

It is at Salmon Falls, and the house lately owned and 
occupied by Mr. William Milliken stands upon it. 

The lot assigned for the ministry or parsonage was No. 27 ^ 
in the same range, adjacent to the last mentioned, and lying 
between that and the lot on which Joel M. Marshall, Esq., 
and Mr. Came, now live. 

The law required that a lot should be set apart " for the 
school," but this requirement seems to have been neglected 
by the proprietors, unless the three acres reserved for public 
use on home lots 1 and 2 of range D may be considered as 
a compliance with the law in this regard. 

Having obtained a title to their township, and having laid 
a part of it into lots, the next care of the proprietors was to 
get the town settled, so that the grant to them should not be 
forfeited. 

At a meeting held May 31, 1736, a bounty was voted " to 
Each propriator to the No of ten who shall now apear to 
buld a House of the Contents of Eighteen feet Square and 
Seven feet Stud on his Lot in Sd Township and finish the 
Same So as to make the Same Tennantable at or before two 
years be Ended next aftor the Date hereof & Clere four 
acres of Land fit for mowing within the Said two years." 

Stimulated by this bounty, ten men came forward and 
agreed to comply with the terms of the vote. The names 
of these ten men are recorded. None of them, I think, ever 
settled in this town, and whether they employed others to 
carry out their undertaking is unknown.^ 

At a meeting held May 30, 1737, it was " Voted that if 
any Persons to the No of thirty of Said Propriators will 
apear to give Eighty Pound bond Each to Cap William Els- 
ley Treasurer for Said Propriators or his Sucksessor in that 



1 See Dennett's Map. 

sTlieir names are " Doa" Jonathan Fellows Samuel Ingals John Bartlit Timothy 
Currier Joseph Colli n Timothy Sheapord M' Daniel Hale Benjamin Woodman Dea« 
James Chute Samuel Stickney." 



26 



BTTXTON CENTENNIAIi. 



office that they will Settle their Lots in Said Township agree- 
able to the Conditions of the Grant made by the Great & 
General Court at or before Tow years be Ended next aftor 
the Date hereof: and when Each Settler hath bult his house 
& Cleared his Land according to Said grant and when Sd 
House is bult & finished fit to Dwell in then Such Settler 
Shall be Lititled to Receive Twenty Pounds out of Said 
Propriators money to be paid by Said propriators Treasurer 
& twenty pounds more when they have Cleared Said Lands ; 
& when Said House or Houses Shall be bult and Said Land- 
fenced & Clered then the Said Settlers are to Settle a fameley 
in Each House who are to Continue there for & During the 
Space of Seven years next aftor the bulding Said House : " 
and it was required that " Such Settlement be made within 
Two years from the first of September next aftor the Date 
of this meeting." 

" Forty pounds ^ in bills of Publick Credet " (a largely 
depreciated paper currency) was voted as a bounty to each 
of the thirty who should comply with the terms of the vote, 
and it was further voted to raise .£1,200 in the same bills to 
enable the proprietors to pay the promised bounty. 

From the subsequent records it seems that thirty persons 
did agree to settle in compliance with the terms of the vote, 
but who they were is unknown. We know, however, from 
the records, that most of them were very backward in com- 
plying with their agreement. 

At the same meeting a mill privilege was voted to any of 
the thirty who should build a good saw-mill, which vote was 
so far modified at the next meeting, held July 19, 1738, as 
to direct that the mill, if built, should be placed on no other 
stream than Saco river. No mill, however, was built under 
this vote. The levy of £1,200 did not include those who 



iBy an act of the Province passed March 31, 1750, £1 ol<i tenor became equal to but 
23. 8d. lawful money or silver. At this rate tlie bounty of £40 would be equal to 
£5 Cs. 8d. lawful money. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 27 

agreed to settle — that is, they were not required to pay any 
part of it. 

At this last named meeting the assessment was voted to 
" be made as soon as may be," and collectors and assessors 
were appointed. 

It was also voted that if any of the thirty who had agreed 
to give bonds to settle their lots should neglect to do so until 
after the tenth of August then next, the treasurer should 
then be at liberty to accept the bonds of such other proprie- 
tors as would agree to make settlements, who would then be 
entitled to the privileges which the others had forfeited. 

At the same meeting a committee was appointed to prose- 
cute trespassers. At a meeting held Sept. 5, 1738, it was 
voted to lay out 123 more lots of sixty acres each, it being a 
second division. Samuel Chase, Joseph Woodman, and John 
Brooks were appointed a committee for this purpose. 

This committee attended to this business and made a re- 
port under date of October 13, 1738, which was signed by 
all of them. Their report was accepted and recorded. The 
drawings for these lots began on the 8th of November, 1738, 
at a meeting held on that day. Each proprietor, as he drew 
a lot, was to declare on whose original right he drew. These 
original rights to the soldiers or their legal representatives 
had generally been sold by them, and to prevent confusion 
and to keep the record straight, it was necessary to record 
the name of the original grantee as well as that of the then 
owner. 

This and the other divisions may be seen and understood 
by reference to Dennett's map. The names of those who 
drew can be found in Goodwin's Narraganset. 

At the next meeting, held April 11, 1739, it was voted to 
pay X30, old tenor, "unto Dea"^ Jonathen Fellows to help 
him to buld a Saw mill on the Twelft Lot in said Township 
in the first Devision of Lots Known by the Letter : D : " 



28 



BUXTON CENTEKNlAIi. 



He failed to build the mill, but we shall hereafter see that 
the first saw-mill was actually built on the lot here named. 

It was at the same time voted to build a meeting-house ; 
and it was also voted that no grass growing on the undivided 
meadows should be cut bj any person before the 20th of 
July then next. 

From these votes in regard to building a saw-mill and a 
meeting-house, and in regard to cutting the grass, we are, I 
think, well justified in drawing the inference that there were 
some settlers in town in 1739, though I do not know that 
any proof of the settlement exists. 

Somewhat confirmatory of the supposition that there were 
settlers as early as 1739, is an affidavit, which I possess, 
dated October 12, 1774, and signed by John Brooks,^ in 
which he swears that in 1739 he went at the request of Jo- 
seph Woodman to show him lot 3 of range A in the second 
division. 

On the other hand the fact that there was no meeting of 
the proprietors held in 1741, gives us some reason for sup- 
posing that no settlement had taken place at that time. 

The meeting of April 11, 1739, was adjourned till the 
11th of June, when the previous vote in relation to building 
a meeting-house was rescinded and a new one was passed. 
As this vote of the 11th of June indicates the place where 
the first meeting-house stood, and as it was probably built in 
the style directed, I will recite the vote in full, so that you 
may, in imagination, behold the first house built by our fath- 
ers in this town for " the publick worship of God." 

The vote is as follows : " at Said meeting held the 11th 
day of June 1739 by adjornment the two above votes Relat- 
ing to the meeting House was Reconsidered & made voide 
and it was voted that Cap' Nathanael Mighill m"" Isaac Ap- 
pleton & m"" Samuel Chase or the major part of them be a 

* Appendix E. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 29 

Committee to agree with Som person or persons to Clere 
Som Land on the westei'ly End of the first or Second Lots 
Known by the Letter D in the first De vision in Said Town- 
ship to bukl a meeting House on, for the Puhlick worship of 
God of the Contents of thirty feet Long & Twenty five feet 
wide & nine feet Stud of hune timber & the Roof to be 
horded & Short Shingled & the Said Committee are to have 
Said House well finished fit to preach in b^' the Last Day of 
September which will be in the year 1740." 

At the same time the money needed to build the meeting- 
house was voted; also X15 to the committee "that went to 
State a place for a meeting house." The land on which it 
was voted to place the meeting-house was reserved for pub- 
lic use by the proprietors in accordance with the report of 
the committee which laid out the First Division lots in 1735. 

The reservation is in these words : " on tlie first & Second 
Lots on the Raing Known by the Letter D — there is Re- 
served one acre & [a] half at the westerly end of Each Lot 
with Liberty for the Second of Said Lots or the owner there- 
of to Com to the mane Road which three acres is for publick 
use for the benefit of the whole Propriaty." 

These lots were laid out to be twenty rods wide, so that 
the depth of the strip for public use would be twelve rods. 
I am informed by Mr. Daniel Dennett that the houses of 
Jos. G. Darrah, Ansel Merrill, Otis Dennett and son, and 
William F. Woodman now stand upon the strip of land so 
reserved for public use, it having long since become pri- 
vate property. 

At the next meeting, held June 18, 1740, a bounty was 
voted to Mr. Samuel Chase " to Inable him tobuld a Sawmill 
in Said Township at a plase Called Gains is Brook." The 
name Gains's brook is not now in use, but upon the plan of 
the town returned to the General Court in 1733, as before 
mentioned, the brook now, and probably ^ for more than a 

'Haines's Meadow is mentioned in the Proprietors' records in 1765. 



30 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

hundred years, called Haines' Meadow Brook is marked 
" Gains is Brook." It was probably on this brook that he 
intended to build ; and we may conjecture that the site se- 
lected by him was near the house of Mr. Libby Palmer. He, 
however, did not carry out his intention, and the mill was 
not built. At the next meeting, held May 19, 1742, another 
committee was appointed to agree with some one to build a 
saw-mill " in a Convenient Place." 

At a meeting held about a month later, namely, June 15, 
1742, the saw-mill question was again prominent, and a 
committee was chosen " to agree with Stephen myghill & 
others about Said Saw mill both on y terms of building & 
Sawing & when to Resign Said mill up to y^ Proprietors 
again." 

Notwithstanding the great need there was for a saw-mill 
and the evident anxiety of the proprietors to have one built, 
yet we find, years after this date, that none had been built. 

And now, in this year 1742, we reach a period when we 
know that the settlement of this town had actually begun. 
Though tradition had informed us that a settlement was be- 
gun prior to 1750, and though it may be inferred from the 
proprietors' records, yet no positive written evidence of the 
fact was known to exist until I discovered, in the archives of 
Massachusetts, an original petition which I copied and sent 
to Capt. Goodwin, who caused it to be printed in the volume 
before mentioned, where it may be found on page 48.^ This 
petition settles an important fact in our history, and is in 
other respects so interesting that I beg your attention while 
I read it : 

To HIS Excellency William Shirley Esq ; Capt : Gen' & 
Governour in Chief, in & Over his Majesty's Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay — in New England, To the Hon' his Maj- 



1 According to Capt. Goodwin tliere was one settlor at least in Buxton as early as 1740, 
viz.: Samnel Hounds, near the Gorhani linp, ou the farm now or recyutly owned by 
Jerry Osboni.— Goodwin's Narragauset, p. 241. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 31 

esty's Council, & the Hon' House of Representatives in 
Gen' Court Assembled. May. 26. 1742. 

Thb Petion of Us the Subscribers, being Settlers of 
the Narrhagansett Grant Number One 

Humbly Shews 

That Whereas the Township Number one of the Narrha- 
gansett Grants, Lying on the Back of Scarborough & Bid- 
deford & on the North East Side of Saco River, was granted 
to some of your Petitioners, & those whom y* Rest of us 
represent, together with a Number of Others, who were all 
equally with Us obliged to fulfill certain Terms & conditions 
of Settlement within the Term of Seven Years from the 
Date of Sd Grant ; as by a Copy thereof, hereto annexed 
may appear ; which Sd Term of Years, is long since expired, 
Yet none of y^ Sd Grantees have fulfilled y® Sd Conditions 
of the Sd Grant, except Such of y" Pet" only as were Gran- 
tees & those whom the Rest of Us Represent — Who have 
by reason of the negligence, & Default of the Sd Delinquent 
Grantees, been put to very extraordinary Costs & Charges 
in Carrying on Our Settlements thus far, — have been obliged 
to live without any Settled Publick Worship of God among 
us — School For our Children — Publick Buildings or Neces- 
sary Fortifications ; Whereby Oui own Lives & the Lives of 
our Families, with our Substance have been in continual 
Jeopardy, in this exposed Frontier ; & our Children under 
the Disadvantage of a Wilderness Education, which Y° Pet" 
should in no wise have Submitted to, had we not expected, 
that the Rest of the admitted Settlers would have been 
obliged to fulfill the Sd Terms of then- Sd Grants ; Yet after 
our repeated invitations & Litreaties, Y° Pet^ have not had 
the Happiness of Seeing any of our Sd Partners making any 
Improvements on, or attempt to comply with y^ Terms of 
their Sd Grants ; and they living mostly at a Distance, & 
having So long refused — Y° Pet° have no Reason to think 



32 BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 

They will by any Means be compelled to it — and unless there 
be other Settlers admitted in their Room, We shall be obliged 
to leave Our Habitations very Soon, & yield up our Im- 
provements to the wild Beasts, or Salvage Natives, 

Y° Pef* THEKEFORE liumbly pray y° Excellency & Hon- 
ours would take the Case of Y° Distressed Petit" under Y° 
Wise & Impartial Consideration, & Order the Lots of the Sd 
Delinquent Settlers to be declared forfeited — and that 
Others may be admitted in their Stead — who may be com- 
pelled to Settle, in as short a time as possible. Otherwise 
Grant Us Such Relief, as to Your Great Wisdom & Good- 
ness shall seem meet — & Y° Pet, (as in Duty bound) shall 
ever pray. 

Robert Brooks Nathan Whitney 

Magnes Redlen James Sands June^ 

John ^ Davis Sn" Joseph Woodman 

Nathanael Durel Samuel Ingalls 

John Brooks Samuel Chase 

IcHABOD Austen 

On receiving this petition the General Court ordered the 
petitioners to serve the Clerk of the Proprietors with notice 
to show cause at the next fall session, if any they had, why 
the respective rights of the delinquent proprietors should not 
be declared void. This petition, it will be noticed, boai's date 
May 26, and is signed by eleven men who declare themselves 
to be at that time " Settlers of the Narrhagansett Grant 
Number One." I also discovered at the same time and place, 
and communicated to Capt. Goodwin, another petition, of 
the same date, signed by Eliot Vaughan and many inhabit- 
ants of Scarborough and Biddeford (which latter town then 
included Saco), praying that the grantees of this town who 
had not complied with the conditions of the grant should be 
declared delinquent, their lots forfeited, and the petitioners 
admitted as settlers in their stead, under such conditions as 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 33 

should effectually secure the speedy settlement of the town- 
ship. 

These ably written petitions, which bear the same date 
and are in the same hand-writing, had a common origin and 
design. They gave notice to the proprietors that it was 
dangerous longer to delay compliance with the conditions of 
the grant, and that those who had failed to comply with them 
were liable to have their rights declared forfeited by the 
government. These petitions were intended, and had the 
effect, to stir up the proprietors to more vigorous action. 

At the next meeting, held at Newbury on the 20th of Oc- 
tober, 1742, " Joseph Gerrish & John Greenleaf Esq"" were 
Chosen & impowered, a Committee to Represent y*" Proprie- 
tors of Said Township (at y* next Sitting of y* Great & Gen- 
eral Court or assembly of his majesties Province of the massa- 
chusetts bay in New England) and then and there to offer 
reasons in behalf of Said Proprietors, why the prayer of y" 
Petition Signed by Eliot Vaughan and others Relating to a 
Township Called no : one Lying on Saco River Dated may 
y« 26—1742 Should not be Granted." 

At the same time a committee was chosen to sell the lands 
of such proprietors as had neglected to pay their taxes, which 
said committee proceeded to do, and made report of their 
sales. At the same time a vote was passed in relation to a 
meeting-house, which it seems, at this date, viz. : Oct. 20, 
1742, had not been built. The vote was as follows : 

" Whereas there was a Com" Chosen Some time Passed to 
build a meeting house at y^ Township Laid to y* Narragan- 
sett Soldiers Called no : one and by reason of y* talk of a 
french war it is not yet built it is now voted that y" Said 
Com" Shall forthwith go on & fully build & Compleat said! 
meeting house." 

The meeting-house, being the first one in town, was built 
between the 20th of October, 1742, and the 18th of April, 
c 



34 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

1743. It was probably built as directed by the vote before 
mentioned, namely, " thirty feet Long & Twenty five feet 
wide & nine feet stud of hune timber & the Roof to be 
horded & Sliort Shingled." In December, 1742, the peti- 
tions of Eliot Vaughn and others, and of the eleven settlers 
before mentioned, came up for a hearing, and on the 16th of 
December, 1742, the General Court ordered them to "be 
refer'd to the second tuesday of the next May Session for 
further consideration," because " this Court is informed that 
there is a meeting appointed of the Grantees or Proprietors 
of the new Township mentioned in this Petition in order to 
their proceeding effectually to fulfill the Conditions of their 
Grant." Before the next May session of the General Court 
took place seven of the proprietors signed a written request 
to call a meeting, which request was as follows : 

Newbury Aprill y'' 18 1743— 
We the Subscribers think it highly Reasonable to have a 
Propri° meeting as Soon as may be. we therefore desire you 
Joseph Coffin as Clerk for s"^ Proprietors to notifie and warn 
the Proprietors of the narragansett Township no : one : that 
they assemble & meet together at Cap* Joseph Hale* inholder 
in newbury on tuesday y* thirty first day of may next Ensu- 
ing y* date hereof at nine of y" Clock in y"" forenoon then & 
there to make Choice of assessors Collectors : and allso to 
raise money to defray y*^ Charges allready arisen in building 
a meeting house att Said Township, & to defrey any other 
Charges that Shall arise in bringing forward s"^ Township the 
year Ensuing and the delinquent Proprietors are hereby de- 
sired to bring & pay y" Remaining part of their taxes that 
was Levyed or assesed on Said Rights in y" year A : D : 1742 
or their Rights will be Exposed to Sale on sd day as the Law 
directs : and allso to make choice of a Commi"" to treat with 
a Learned & an orthodox minister to preach at Said Town- 
ship y° year Ensuing & in order to Settle at Said Township. 
& allso to pass votes in order to forward & Regulate any af- 



BUXTOK CENTENNIAL. 35 

fair Respecting y" meadows in said township or any other 
part of sd townsliip. & to impower y° Committee Chosen to 
take in bonds Respecting y= Settlement of thirty Rights in 
sd Township to sue any or all of sd Bonds that are forfeited 
Respecting the Settlement aforesaid — given under our hands 
y* day & year aforesd. 



Joseph Coffin Prop"" Clerk 



'^Samuel Chase 
Benjamin Moody 
Sam'''' Morgaridge 
^ Joseph Gerrish Ju" 
Thomas Gage 
Stephen Myghill 
Richard Hale 

The nature and tone of this request and the action had at 
the meeting called in pursuance thereof evidently show that 
the fear of the General Court had aroused the proprietors. 

At that meeting, held May 31, 1743, a committee was ap- 
pointed " to agree with Some Suteable & Learned & orthodox 
Gentleman To preach to the Proprietors & Inhabitants of 
Said Plantation." A committee was at the same meeting 
appointed to prosecute the bonds of such persons as had 
agreed to settle and had not done so. 

An assessment of forty shillings, old tenor, was voted " to 
pay for building the meeting house at Said Township & to 
pay for Pi'eaching, for Some time, at Said township." It 
was also at the same meeting " Voted that Thomas Gage & 
Stephen myghilP in Company which had undertook to build 
a Saw mill at Said Township & had given Bond to Perform 
the Same," be released from their obligation on refunding the 
money which they had received in part payment. These 
active measures prevented any further action by the General 
Court on the above mentioned petitions, and the petitioners 



1 Gage and Myghill or Mighill were of Rowley. It was this Gage, prohably, who held 
the commission of Captain, Major, and Lieut. -Col. in the Freacli war. Stephen MighiU 
was clerk of a military company in 1757, and was employed iu town ailairs. 



36 



BUXTON" CENTENNIAL. 



made no further movements against the proprietors. In the 
archives of Massachusetts I also discovered an affidavit, which 
was doubtless presented to the General Court by the commit- 
tee which the proprietors had appointed to oppose the prayer 
of the petitioners before mentioned. 

The affidavit may be found in Goodwin's Narraganset, p. 
61, and is as follows: 

*' These are to sertify any person whom it may Concern 
that the subscriber was the week before last on the township 
which is laid out to the narrowgansit Soulders cauled number 
One lying on the East Syde of Soco River and I saw a saw- 
mill erected on sd township which the millrights informed me 
that they Desired to get it to go in three or fore Days and I 
saw five Houses erected and I was informed that there were 
several more Scattering a Bought in the township. 

Dated Rowley November 17"^ 1742. 

Nath" Mighill." 

Sworn to Nov. 18, 1742, before John Hobson, Justice of 
the Peace. 

It will be noticed that the affidavit says the millwrights 
desired to get the mill to go in three or four days, but does 
not say that they expected it to go within that or any other 
time. 

From this affidavit we learn that at the date thereof, Nov. 
17, 1T42, there were probably not more than eight or ten 
houses in town, and these must have been made of logs, as 
there was then no saw-mill. The whole population then did 
not, probably, vary much from forty to fifty in number. 

As the proprietors began to be relieved from anxiety on 
account of the proposed forfeiture of their grant, the appre- 
hension of a war between France and the mother country 
increased. On the 11th of November, 1743, the House of 
Representatives voted to expend £100, old tenor, in building 
a garrison in this town, and at a meeting held December 28, 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 37 

1743, it was "Voted that the Proprietors will asist the. in- 
habitants of the Township no : 1 : & take care that a Garri- 
son be kept in Said Township when built by the Province." 

On the 30th of November, 1743, Gov. Sliirley wrote to 
the committee appointed for the purpose by the General 
Court, and directed them " forthwith to repair to the County 
of York and to take effectual care that a Garrison " be erect- 
ed in "Newbury Narraganset" and the other towns and 
settlements named in his letter. Under this order the Pro- 
vincial Garrison in tliis town was erected, probably before 
December 81, 1743. At any rate the garrison was built 
prior to May 1, 1744, for in the petition for a meeting of 
that date one of the reasons for asking for a meeting was 
" To see if the Proprietors will Clear Round the Garrison 
accordino; to the Great & General Courts Com'^ Desire & 
order." Where was this Provincial Fort or Garrison situ- 
ated ? Tradition places it, and doubtless correctly, at Salmon 
Falls, on Lot 2 of Range D in tlie First Division, as stated 
on Dennett's map. 

It was doubtless of logs, and was probably near, and may 
have been adjacent to, the log meeting-house before men- 
tioned. The garrison and meeting-house were, placed thei-e 
partly because the land was reserved for public use, as before 
stated, and partly because at that time there was no more 
eligible spot for either, the settlers, probably, being mostly in 
that vicinity. The site pointed out by tradition is near to, 
and on the north-westerly side of, the house now owned and 
occupied by Otis Dennett. 

At a meeting held on the 14th of February, 1743-4, a 
committee was appointed to prosecute any persons who had 
not made a settlement according to their bonds, and a bounty 
was voted to Thomas Gage and Stephen Myghill " on their 
Keeping a Good Sawmill" in said Township," and giving 
bond to do so. In order to show the condition of things in 



S8 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



this town on the first day of May, 1744, I will read all the 
Articles in the Warrant for a meeting bearing that date. 

1 To Grant money for and to appoint Some persons to 
Clear the highways in said Township — 

2*^^ To take proper methods to obtain an high way through 
the Township of biddeford to said Narragansett Township 

S"^'^ To take EfFectuall Care that there be a Saw mill on 
said Township for the Service of the inhabitants thereof 

^diy -pQ appoint Proper Persons to run out and settle y* 
Bounds of our said Township — 

6*^'^ to take effectuall Care to glaze the meeting house 

6*^'^ To see if the Proprietors will Clear Round the Garri- 
son according to the Great & General Courts Com'^ Desire 
& order 

From these articles we learn that at that time little work 
had been done on the highways ; that there Avas then no road 
to Saco Falls ; that there was no saw-raill, notwithstanding 
the many votes on the subject ; that there was, probably, 
even at that early day, some uncertainty and trouble about 
the boundaries of the town ; that a meeting-house had been 
built, but was not glazed ; and that a garrison had been built, 
but that the woods about it had not been sufficiently cleared 
away. 

The time named in the warrant for the meeting was the 
last Wednesday in May. The meeting was held on that day, 
but no business was done. It was adjourned from time to 
time until Nov. Gth, when the only business transacted was 
to appoint a committee to run the town lines and mark the 
bounds, and also to view the land round the fort, and to see 
whether it was cleared accordingly to the General Court's 
desire. It is doubtful whether even these matters were at- 
tended to. 

Why was this meeting thus adjourned for months, and why 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 39 

was no attention paid to the other matters named, and tc 
whicli the attention of the meeting was called by the war- 
rant? And why was it that between the 1st of May, 1744, 
and the 1st of June, 1749, a period of five years, only one 
meeting was called, and that merely to take means to pre- 
vent trespassing in the township ? 

It was because the long-expected and long-dreaded war 
had broken out. France declared war against England 
March 15, 1744, and the proprietors had evidently heard of 
it before May 30, the day appointed for their meeting. 

The settlers here had also doubtless heard of it before the 
close of May. Under these circumstances what were they 
to do ? There were, probably, not more than fifteen or 
twenty men, probably not so many, capable of bearing arms, 
and these living somewhat apart and separated by woods, so 
that if attacked they might easily be cut off in detail before 
they could gather together for united defense. Even if they 
should have sufficient notice of the attack to all reach the 
garrison, they would not be able long to hold out if a force 
of even thirty men should be brought against them. Their 
garrison of logs, even if surrounded by a stockade, would be 
but a poor and temporary defence against any well-organized 
attack. The garrison, I suppose, would have had neither 
guns nor ammunition, except what the settlers might bring 
to it. Provisions would be scarce, and, as we shall hereafter 
learn, worse than all, the garrison was destitute of water. 
In case of a war with France there was always danger of an 
attack from the Indian allies of the French, if not from the 
French as well. 

The settlers, if they should remain, would be obliged tO' 
work with their guns at their sides, and every unusual sound 
in the forest would be a cause of alarm by day and of terror 
by night. They would live in constant fear of the war 
whoop, the tomahawk, and the scalping knife. 

In this case discretion was evidently the better part of 



40 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

valor, and they probably all left town soon after hearing of 
the declaration of war. They had but just fairly begun, by 
cutting and burning, to make small clearings in tlie forest- 
covered town. Their houses were but rude log cabins, con- 
sisting generally, it is probable, of but one room ; and their 
household goods were so scanty that we can hardly believe, 
when told, how few they were. The settlers were all poor 
people, and it was an easy matter to take all their personal 
property with them. 

But these rude homes made by their own hard labor were 
dear to them, and not without sorrow must they have left 
them behind. Here they had come with hopeful hearts, 
trusting that out of these woods they should, in time, carve 
for themselves pleasant and happy homes. These hopes were 
now blighted ; and if the hope of a return in a more peace- 
ful day still survived, it was but that hope deferred which 
maketh the heart sick. 

Of the names of those who left and of those who returned, 
are known with certainty, I think, only those of Joseph 
Woodman and John Brooks. There were, perhaps, others 
who returned, but the greater number, there is reason to be- 
lieve, never came back. As they left, the sound of the axe 
and the lowing of cattle and the voice of man and the sweet- 
er voice of woman and the merry laughter of children ceased 
to be heard. The wild beasts possessed their homes and the 
awful silence of the forest settled down upon them. 

We may suppose that the wandering settler occasionally 
ventured back to look upon his abandoned home, and the 
hunter and trapper to pursue his game, but we know that 
the trespasser, risking his scalp upon the result, sometimes 
ventured to make the woods resound as the ringing axe, un- 
heard by the absent settler, brought low the lofty pine. 

These early trespassers have long since ceased from their 
labors, but it is said that an unbroken line of their successors, 
with a fine eye for the handsomest trees and the best logs, 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 41 

has existed on Saco river from that day almost to this. My 
venerable and esteemed friend, the Hon. Joshua Dunn,^ here 
present, is my authority for saying that a man who, in former 
days, was a prominent and well-known citizen of this town 
and of Hollis, once sat upon the bank of the Saco and prayed 
God that the time might come when he should be willing to 
see logs go down river without wishing to steal them. 

But at length the war came to an end, as all wars must. 
Peace was proclaimed in Boston, May 10, 1749, to the great 
joy of the inhabitants, but trouble with the Indians continued 
for some months, and it was not until after a treaty was made 
with them Oct. 16, 1749, that peace was effectually estab- 
lished, and that those Avho had been looking forward to a re- 
turn to their old homes here, or who wished to make new 
ones, could do so with safety. 

The declaration of peace removed from the proprietors and 
settlers the weight of forced inactivity which for five years 
had rested upon them. 

In twenty-two days after the declaration of peace in Bos- 
ton, the clerk issued his warrants for a meeting to be held 
June 20, 1749. The meeting was held in Newbury on that 
day, when a committee was appointed to examine all de- 
mands against the township and make report at the next 
meeting, and also " to tak*^ Eifectual Care that those Pro- 
prietors do forthv\'ith fnltill their obligations," who to the 
number of thirty had bound themselves to settle or cause 
settlements to be made in this township. An agent to look 
after trespassers was also appointed. j 

Under date of Biddeford, Aug. 21, 1749, the clerk was re- 
quested to call a meeting, by the persons below named, viz. : 
Robert Brooks, John Brooks, Jacob Davis, John Redlon, 
Thomas Bradbury, Joseph Woodman, Joshua Woodman, 
Amos Chase. 

1 Seo Appendix I. 



42 BUXTON CENTEKOTAL. 

These persons were at this date doubtless all living in 
Biddeford and Saco, then all under the name of Biddeford. 
It shows pretty clearly that at this time the return of the 
settlers who left in 1744, had not yet begun. 

The meeting so called was held October 3, in Newbury, 
and committees were then appointed to run out and mark the 
boundaries of the town ; to settle with or prosecute non- 
proprietors who had trespassed by cutting grass from the 
meadows ; to treat with Mr. Stephen Myghill and Mr. 
Thomas Gage, respecting the sawmill which they had bound 
themselves to build, and if they would not build it imme- 
diately, to sue them on their bond. 

The call for this meeting and the votes above recited, show 
that in the summer of 1749, the proprietors were moving, 
and that the settlement of the town was again to be under- 
taken ; a settlement that was destined to be permanent. 

I have thus sketched the history of the town from the 
very beginning until the close of the year 1749. 

The next year, 1750, is an important one in our annals. 
From it dates the permanent settlement and continuous his- 
tory of this town. Some of the old settlers came back and 
new ones with them ; and once more the woods rang with 
the sounds of civilized life. 

The first meeting in 1750 was held May 8th, in Rowley. 
The only business done was to vote that there should be 
preaching here forthwith, and to appoint a committee " to 
treat with m"^ timothy White ^ or Some other worthy Gen" man 
to Preach with the Inhabitants of the Narragansctt township 
no : 1 : as Soon as may be so that the Said Inhabitants Shall 
not be Destitute of the Publick Worship of god in Said 
place : the Said Com" to agree with a preach" for Six months 
time." 



1 Timothy White was one of the proprietors of this town. Tliis appears from Good- 
win's Narraganset, page 152, and from a deed to him, dated October SO, 1742, in which 
he is described aa of Sherburne, Clerk, the legal term for a clergyman. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 43 

From a vote passed at the next meeting we learn that Mr. 
White was engaged under the vote just read. He was the 
first minister employed by the proprietors to preach in this 
town. 

The vote above passed, and the engagement of Mr. White 
to preach shows that the re-settlement of the town was ac- 
tually in progress in the spring of 1750, and that the first 
care of the proprietors was to see that the inhabitants should 
not be without the stated preaching of the gospel. 

At the next meeting, held Oct. 10, 1750, a committee was 
employed " to treat with timothy White for his Continuance 
in the ministry with the Inhabitants," and if he should refuse, 
then obtain some other person. 

Another committee was appointed " to prefer a Petition to 
the Town of bidedford Desiring Said Town to clear & make 
a good Passable Cart Road from Biddeford up to the Narra- 
gansett Township no : 1 :" 

From this we learn that there was then no such road from 
here to Saco. 

Another committee was appointed " for bridging or Cause- 
ing over two Swamps in said Township one of them is called 
martins Swamp the other is near by." 

This Martin's swamp was probably the low ground be- 
tween the houses now occupied by Mr. Silas Eklen and Mr. 
Wm. Boynton. A committee was also appointed " to lay 
before y^ Generall Court of this Province as soon as may be 
the unhappy Circumstances the Proprietors of the Narragan- 
sett Township no : 1 : Labour under by Reason that we can- 
not get water by any means where the fort now Stands : we 
the Proprietors therefore Desire the aforesd Com" to Petition 
to the Honour" Court to grant Liberty to Remove said fort 
or Garrison to Some Convenient place for water." 

I suppose that on the high ground at Salmon Falls where 
the fort stood, wells could not be sunk except by blasting, and 



44 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

that the proprietors were not inclined to enter upon the ex- 
penditure of an uncertain sum for that purpose. 

At the next meeting, held Jan. 1, 1750-51, the only busi- 
ness done was to appoint agents, with the promise of a hand 
some reward for their service " to take Particular Care that 
there be no timber Cutt nor Carried off from said Township 
unless Cutt by a Proprietor & that upon his own Right or 
Lott," with authority to prosecute the trespassers. 

From this we may well infer that some of the settlers were 
not particular to confine their cutting to land that they 
owned. 

Joseph Woodman,^ Joshua Woodman,^ John Elden,^ John 
Redlon,^ John Brooks,* Samuel Merrill,^ John Brooks, jr.,* 
Benjamin Bunnell,® and William Hancock'^ were all here on 
the 17th of May, 1751, as we learn by their signature of that 
date requesting Joseph Coffin, the clerk, to call a meeting. 

The meeting was held June 12, 1751, in Newbury, and 
committees were then appointed " to treat with Some Sutca- 
ble Gen"man to preach " and " to Enquire into the afair Re- 
lating to a Grist mill ; " which means, I suppose, to see what 
could be done in relation to having one built. 

And at the same time it was voted to allow the inhabi- 
tants to cut grass equally on " the undivided meadows " "one 
as much as another." 

The next call for a meeting is dated Aug. 3, 1752, and as 
those who signed it were all doubtless living in town at that 
time, I will read their names. 

John Brooks, Benj. Durell,^ David Martin,^ Benj. Dunnell, 
Joshua Woodman, Saml. Rolfe,* Timothy Ilasaltine, Job 
Roberts,® Saml. Merrill, William Hancock, Joseph Wood- 
man, John Elden, John Wilson.® 



' See Appendix B. * See Appendix C. ^ See Appendix D. * See Appendix E, 
» See Appendix F. sgeo Appendix G. ' See Appendix U. 
• See Appendix K. » See Appendix L. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 45 

There were doubtless other men in town who did not sign 
this call. 

One of their requests was that the next meeting should be 
held here. They had heretofore all been held in Essex 
county, Mass., where most of the proprietors lived. 

Their request was granted, and for the first time a meet- 
ing of the proprietors was warned to be held at the meeting- 
house, then at Salmon Falls. It was held October 12, 1752. 
At this meeting committees were appointed to finish the 
meeting-house ; to build a grist-mill and a saw-mill on the 
main river ; to sell lands for non-payment of taxes ; to en- 
treat the Great and General Court to give the town its full 
quantity of land, and to receive and pay out the money voted 
to be raised. Votes at the same time were passed to defray 
the ministerial charge ; to clear and mend the highways ; to 
raise money to enable the committee to build a grist-mill and 
a saw-mill on the main river, and to allow two shillings and 
eight pence for a day's work on the highways, and to pay 
Joseph Coffin, the clerk, forty shillings for coming from New- 
bury to attend the meeting. 

From these votes we learn, among other things, that the 
log meeting-house which had been built nearly ten years pre- 
viously had not yet been finished, or at least needed repairs, 
and that the price of a day's labor in silver, was reckoned at 
two shillings and eight pence, equivalent to about sixty-five 
cents of our money in silver, which would buy then as much 
or more of the necessaries of life as perhaps $2 of our cur- 
rency will now. The grist-mill and saw-mill which it was 
voted to build on the main river were not built under this 
vote. 

The next meeting was held in Andover, Nov. 29, 1752, 
when a committee was appointed " to agree with a man or 
men to build & keep a Good Griest mill at Said ToAvnship, 
on the Great River near Sammon Falls (so called) or on 
any other Stream where the Proprietors have any undivided 



46 BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 

land : & upon the mill being built & keept the Proprietors 
at this meeting have Voted to the man or men that So builds 
& keeps the mill their Priveledge of the Stream & allso ten 
acres of Land adjoyning to it for the mill Priveledge & have 
impowr'^ tlie above Com''° to give a Conveyance to him or 
them." I have quoted this vote in full, for though under it 
no mill was built on the Great River, yet, years afterwards, 
mills were built under it on Little River, as we shall here- 
after see. In this vote the name Salmon Falls appears for 
the first time in the records of the proprietors. Committees 
were also appointed to perambulate the line between this 
town and Gorham, and to see if the town had the full quant- 
it}'- of land to which it was entitled ; to make sale of lands 
for non-payment of taxes ; to provide preaching, and to see 
that those who had given bonds to make settlements com- 
plied therewith. 

Votes Avere also passed to raise £6Q 13s 4d, lawful money 
to support preaching; £13 6s 8d, " to be Laid out in finish 
ing the meeting house if it be wanted all & m' William Han- 
cock is Chosen to See it done ; " and £5 6s 8d, " to clear 
& mend High ways & to be laid out on the road or way that 
leads to where we Judge Bidedford road will meet our road." 
A " Passable Cart Rode " to Saco was, it seems, not yet 
opened, but probably was made not long after. 

The next meeting was held in this town October 10, 1753. 
When committees were appointed to provide preaching ; 
to inquire into the state of the treasury ; to prefer a petition 
to the General Court for the appointment of a surveyor and 
chain men to run out the township ; to call those to account 
who were chosen to prosecute trespassers, and to treat w^ith 
William Hancock and John Brooks relating to exchanging 
highways near them. <£13 6s 8d was voted for highways 
and X3 to pay the expenses of the meeting, it being for the 
expenses of the journey of the clerk from Newbury, I sup- 
pose. ' 



BTJXTON CENTENNIAL. 47 

The next meeting was called in compliance with the fol- 
lowing request : 

" Narragansett No : 1 : it is the Humble Petition of us 
the Subscribers to m' Joseph Coffin Proprietors Clerk that 
You call a meeting forthwith 

1 to See if the Proprietors of Said Narragansett will build 
a fort at or near the Broad turn (So Calld) 

2 and to See if the Proprietors will find men help to keep 
the Same in case there be a war which is much Expect** in 
as much as the Province fort is very ill Convenient for the 
Settlers on the northeasterly Side of martains Swamp & fur- 
ther there is not accommadations for all the inhabitants in 
s** fort So if we have not a fort according to Petition we must 
of necesity leave the place march y* 29"^ 1754 

William Hancock : Epharim Sands : Thomas Sands — 
Timothy Hasetine -} Isaac Hancock : John Boynton : Sam- 
uel merrill : Job Roberts : Joseph Woodman John Elden & 
John Hancock — " 

In compliance with this request a meeting was held April 
30, 1754, and it was then voted to build a fort forthwith and 
to raise money for this purpose. 

This vote was modified at the next meeting held May 29, 
1754, when the following vote was passed : " Voted that m' 
William Hancock Shall have Eight Pounds paid him upon 
his building a fort or Garrison at the Township afores*^ Said 
fort or Garrison to be forty feet square bilt with Pillasaders 
or Stockades three feet & one half in the ground & ten feet 
above the Ground & Said Stockades to be Sett Double & a 
Good flanker or watch box at two opposite Corners of Said 
fort : & Said fort or Garrison to [be] built in twenty Days 
from y® date hereof: & to be Satt where the inhabitants liv- 
ing on the northerly Side of the Swamp Shall See cause to 

* The name is Ilasaltine as Mr. Hasaltine ^himself spelled it. The clerk doubtless 
made the error iu copying. \ 



48 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

Sett the Same the Expence to be paid by the Generall" [the 
proprietors] — 

The situation of this fort or garrison, as also of the Provin- 
cial fort before mentioned, was unknown to most of those liv- 
ing in the immediate vicinity even, until steps were taken by 
myself, within a few years, to ascertain the sites and preserve 
the memory of them. The site of the Provincial fort seems 
to have been accurately ascertained by Mr. Dennett, and the 
result of his inquiries may he found on his map, as before 
mentioned. Charles Coffin, Esq., in a manuscript which I 
have, says that the fort " was annexed to the house of Capt. 
Joseph Woodman." Mr. Woodman in 1754 owned and, 
from investigations which I have made, I have no doubt then 
lived on Lot 11 of Range B in the First Division, lying at 
Pleasant Point ; and here doubtless stood a fort. In addi- 
tion to this evidence I procured the testimony of the best and 
probably the only living witness as to the exact site of the 
fort. At my request, Mr. John Elden, late of Saco, a step- 
son of Hon. John Woodman, rode with me on the SOtli day 
of August, 1867, from his house to Pleasant Point to show 
me the site of the fort. He took me to the highest part of 
the aforesaid Lot 11, and told me that there his step-father 
told him the fort stood. He remembered when two cellars 
were plainly visible where now only a slight, but yet evi- 
dent, depression marks the spot where they once existed. 

Nathan Woodman, the father of John, bought this very 
Lot 1], of his brother, Capt. Joseph, in 1757, when John 
was about seven years old. The Hon. John therefore knew 
this spot from childhood, and doubtless remembered the fort, 
which, after the purchase from the brother, stood adja- 
cent to the house of his father. The Hon. John Woodman 
settled on the adjacent farm, and his house was within forty 
rods of the site mentioned. Beyond any question he knew 
where the fort stood, and beyond any reasonable doubt he 
showed to his step-son, John Elden, who lived with him many 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 49 

years, the very spot as the site of the fort, which Mr. EKlen 
showed to me.^ 

Tlie interest in the site of the fort at Pleasant Point is still 
furtlier enhanced as the birth-place of Rebecca Woodman, 
daughter of Capt. Joseph Woodman, who, uniform tradition 
tells us, was the first cliild born in this town after the re-set- 
tlement.^ 

At that time her father owned and doubtless lived on Lot 
11, the site of the fort, as above mentioned. Tradition con- 
firms known facts in pointing to this sj)ot as her birth-place. 

She married Lieut. Moses Atkinson ^ who lived many years 
at the Bar Mills, on the Mollis side, in a house that stood 
near, and, it is said, a little in front of the brick house now 
owned and occupied by Miss Anna Sawyer. She died Feb- 
ruary 3, 1833, and was buried in the grave-}- ard on the high 
hill in Hollis where the Elder Hodgdon meeting-house form- 
erly stood. No stone marks her grave, and I suppose that to 
none of her numerous descendants is the spot now known. 

And here I ma}' as well speak of the first saw-mill in town. 
By the extracts which I have read from the proprietors' rec- 
ords it appears that numerous votes were passed in regard to 
the building of a saw-mill between 1737 and 1750. 

After 1749 the records do not show that the proprietors 
were troubled for want of a saw-mill, and I infer from this 
that one was built in 1750, when the re-settlement began. 
We have already seen that on the 11th of April, 1739, the 
proprietors voted to help Dea. Jonatlian Fellows to build a 
saw-mill on Lot 12, Range D, First Division. 

On this lot the first saw-mill was doubtless erected. At 
my request Mr. Daniel Dennett examined this lot and learned 



1 See Appeudix M. 

2 111 Williams' Centennial Address in 1850, she is said to have been born " January 
11, old style, 1751," which would make her birth to have been January 22, 1752, new 
style, which is probably erroneous. She was probably born January 11, 1750, old style, 
which would be January 22, 1751, as we now reckon. 

8 See Appendix N. 
D 



50 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



that a saw-mill once stood on it. Prior to 1750 Gage and 
Myo;hill agreed to build a saw-mill, and on the 3d of October, 
1749, as already stated, the proprietors voted to sue them if 
they did not forthwith comph^ with their bond and build the 
mill. Stimulated hy this threat they built this saw-mill or 
caused it to be built soon after, for we hear of no further 
complaint for the want of one. As evidence that the first 
saw-mill was built on the said Lot 12, and on Stackpole's 
brook ^ (so named on the plan of 1733, a name which has 
come down, though faintly, to the present day), I will state 
the following facts : The mill was built by Joseph Woodman 
under an engagement with Gage & Myghill ; for, at a meet- 
ing held Nov. 3, 1762, the proprietors voted to discharge 
them from the bond which they had given to build the mill, 
it " being proved at the mee'ting that Joseph Woodman had 
built and compleated Said mill according to the bonds Said 
Woodman gave to Gage & myghill.'" 

As confirmatory of this, I quote an extract from a letter 
to me by the late Robert Wentworth, dated April 15, 1856. 
He says: "It was on this brook that your great-grandfather, 
Capt. Joseph Woodman, built a saw-mill, the first one built 
in town. I have marked [on the map] the spot where the 
mill stood. ^ It was thirty or forty rods from the road that 
leads from Salmon Falls to Saco, and on the left hand side of 
that road as you go from Salmon Falls to Saco." The chain 
of title to the lot is not perfect, but Joseph Woodman con- 
veyed it in 1753 to Elizabeth Wilson, and in 1767 Gage and 
Myghill conveyed it to John Kimball. The fact that Gage 
and Myghill ^ were not discharged from their bond until 1762 



1 Doubtless named for Lieut. Jobn Stackpole, who acted as one of the chainmen 
■when Buxton was first run out in 1733, by a committee of the General Court as herein 
before mentioned. Let the name be peri)etuated. 

2 He marked it too low down on tlie brook, and, as one error begets another, it is 
wrongly marked on Dennett's map of 1852-3, just published. The site on this map 
should have been marked as in the rear of the house of J. Richards. 

* Gage and Myghill were of Rowley. I find nothing to show that they ever lived in 
this town. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 51 

is no evidence that they had not complied with its terms in 
1750, as I suppose the fact to have been. 

It does not appear of record from whom Gage and INIjghill 
or Mr. Woodman derived title, but the fact that they deeded 
it shows that they had some interest in it ; an interest, at 
least, growing out of building the mill. 

The facts stated show, I think, beyond any reasonable 
doubt, that the fii'st saw-mill stood on the lot named. The 
site is in the rear of the house now owned and occupied by 
Mr. Jonathan Richards, and but a few rods below the Brooks 
lot. The site was shown to me Oct. 4, 1871, by Mr. John 
Emery (son of Mr. Peter Emery), who recollects having seen 
in his boyhood a small portion of the dam still remaining. 
No vestige of the mill or dam is now to be seen. This, 
probably, was the only saw-mill in town until 1761, when 
not only a saw-mill, but the first grist-mill was built by John 
Elden,of this town, Jeremiah Hill,^ of Biddeford, and Joseph 
Leavitt,^ of York, on Little River, at the place where Mr. 
Daniel Leavitt's mills now are. The grist-mill remained 
and was used for grinding since my remembrance, Maj. Sam- 
uel Hill being then the owner of it. The deed to them 
which establishes these facts was found by me on record, and 
I communicated it to Capt. Goodwin. It will be found print- 
ed in the volume he edited. On the ten acres so conveyed 
there were two saw-mills on the 11th of May, 1762, as ap- 
pears by a deed of that date from Jeremiah Hill to Capt. 
Thomas Bradbury. * 

One of these saw-mills was probably on the lower of the 
two mill sites which the ten acres covered ; for in a deed 
dated Feb. 17, 1767, from Capt. Bradbury to his son Wil- 
liam he conveys one-eighth interest in what he calls " the 
upper saw-mill * * * which stands by the side of the grist- 
mill." We thus see that as early as May 11th, 1762, if not 

1 See Appendix P- ' See Appendix O. 



52 BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 

in 1761, there were two saw-mills on the ten acres above 
mentioned. I recollect the old saw-mill on the lower site. 
The nse of it had not entirely ceased when I was a boy. The 
first saw-mill, on Lot 12, probably did but little business ever, 
and still less after the erection of the mills in 1761, on Little 
Kiver ; for it is less than a mile in a direct line from where 
the mill stood to the head of the stream. 

We have already seen that peace was declared in Boston 
May 10, 1749, and that the next year the settlement of the 
town began again in good earnest. But in a few years the 
muttering of another contest between Great Britain and 
France reached even this distant place ; for in the petition 
for a meeting dated March 29, 1754, which I have already 
read, it is said that war was much expected, and the proprie- 
tors were requested to determine whether they would build 
a fort and find men to help man it. Thus in a very short 
time after the re-settlement of the town were the settlers, 
who were endeavoring by the hardest of labor to hew out 
for themselves a home in this Avilderness, again disturbed by 
the rumors of war. Nor had they long to wait before these 
rumors became a fearful reality. In the spring of 1755 act- 
ual war began again between France and Great Britain. 

The settlers were more numerous than in 1744. For this 
reason, and probably for others, the danger of an attack from 
the Indians was not so great as it was in the earlier day, and 
the settlers concluded to stand by their homes ; though as 
they themselves say in a petition to the General Court " the 
Said Settlement being a Frontier [we] were under Continual 
Fears of the Indian Enemy and were obliged to keep Watch 
and Ward till the reduction of Quebeck in 1759." 

The men must have gone armed to their work, and the 
mother must have clasped her babe closer to her breast as 
she thought of the savage by day or dreamed of him by 
night. This state of uncertainty and nervous anxiety must 
have continued for some vears, and until the fall of Quebec 



BUXTON CENTENISIAL. 53 

gave assurance that the power of the Frencli in North 
America was substantially destroyed, and that the settlers 
might thenceforward safely follow the path of daily toil which 
was before them, and sleep securely in their humble homes, 
undisturbed by any sound more dreadful than the hoot of the 
owl or the howl of the wolf. No attack was ever made up- 
on them by the Indians. 

Charles Coffin, Esq., than w^hom there is no better author- 
ity, says in a manuscript which I possess, that " The inhabit- 
ants of Buxton, although a frontier town, during the French 
or seven years' war from 1754 to 1761 were never molested 
by the Indians, and were only once alarmed by the discovery 
of one or two Indians crossing the path near the garrison, 
which was annexed to the house of Capt. Joseph Woodman. 
What number of Indians were in the neighborhood at this 
time, or what was the design or object, has never been known. 
This alarm, as was natural, brought all the inhabitants to the 
garrison, who were aided and assisted on this occasion by the 
coolness and decision of Lieut. Samuel Merrill." 

During this war the first military company here Avas formed 
and Joseph Woodman was the captain — the first captain in 
this town. I discovered in the State House in Boston two 
muster rolls signed by him as captain in 1757. They may 
be found printed in Goodwin's Narraganset, pp. 05 and 66. 

He was, I suppose, not called into service out of town. 
John Lane and Daniel Lane, sons of Capt. John Lane, both 
enlisted in this war. John was lieutenant, and at his father's 
death, which happened in service on or about July 14, 1756, 
became captain. He was 22, and Daniel 16 years of age, 
about the time of their enlistment in 1756. Daniel was at 
the taking of Quebec. They and their brother Jabez were 
afterwards captains in the Revolutionary army. They set- 
tled in this town and each raised a numerous family.^ 

1 See Appeudix Q. 



54 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

The next meeting was held June 17, 1755, and the only- 
business done was to appoint a committee " to Treat with 
Some Suteable Gen'° man to Preah to & with the inhabit* of 
the Narragansett Township as Soon as may be & for Such 
Time as Said Com" & the Gen'*' man Shall agree," " the 
Gen'" mans time being Expired who Last Preah'* for us." 

At the next meeting held Dec. 1, 1756, the only business 
done was to raise £9Q "to Defi-ey the ministeriall & other 
necessary Charge arisen in the year 1756." 

The next meeting was held Oct. 6, 1757, when assessors 
and collectors were chosen ; the stay of an execution against 
one Obadiah Johnson was ordered, and £Q6. 13s. 4d. voted 
for the ministerial, and £1Q for other necessary charges. 

The next meeting was held Nov. 15, 1758, at " M'"s Scam- 
mons Innholder in Biddeford," when committees were ap- 
pointed to provide for preaching ; to prefer a petition to the 
General Court for the appointment of a surveyor to run out 
the township " agreeable to the Generall Courts Grant ; " to 
repair the meeting-house and to exchange roads. Isaac Han- 
cock ^ and Samuel Merrill " were chosen surveyors of roads. 
The former was directed to work on Beech plain, and the 
latter " Southward of the Swamp," and a day's labor was 
fixed at two shillings and eight pence. £20 was voted for 
the repair of the meeting-house, £26. 13s. 4d. for "mending 
the ways," <£80 for ministerial and other necessary charges, 
and £2 to Joseph Coffin, the clerk, " for his Service in going 
down to Bideford & attending the meeting." This was Col. 
Joseph Coffin,^ of Newbury, the father of Rev. Paul Coffin." 
The sums above voted were in a depreciated paper curren- 
cy- 

The next meeting was held July 2, 1760, when commit- 
tees were appointed to procure a preacher ; " to treat with 
the Generall Court Relating to running out the town line, 

1 See Appendix H. » See Appendix F. » See Appendix U. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 55 

and to gett the line Settled, and see if we have our quantity 
of land according to grant." 

Samuel Merrill and Isaac Hancock were again chosen sur- 
veyors. 

At a meeting held July 2, 1760, it was voted to lay out 
XIO "on the road Called Pleasant point road; " <£10 "in 
mending the road from the Patten[t] to Sm" merrills " [Sal- 
mon Falls to Saco] ; X4 " on the Beach Plain road so Call- 
ed,"^ and ,£3. 4s. "on the Road from the river unto the 
Seven Hundred acre land." It was also voted "that there 
be a meeting house built as soon as may be." Under this 
last vote the first frame meeting-house was built near the 
spot where we are now gathered, and is still remembered by 
some who hear me. It was torn down and the present one 
built in 1822. 

Another meeting was held shortly afterwards, viz. : on the 
22d of said July, at which it was voted to raise 15s. on each 
right, to " Defrey the Charge for Runing out & Settling the 
bounds with the adjacent towns & to pay for Preaching ; " 
and to raise fifteen shillings on each Right " to be laid out in 
building a meeting house on or near the home lott Eight on 
the Letter G Said house to [be] forty five long & thirty 5 
feet wide & off a Prop'' Stud." 

Joseph Woodman, Joseph Leavitt, and Jeremiah Hill 
were chosen a committee to procure a site for a meeting- 
house, and to lay 0(' .t the money in building it. 

Whether the meeting-house was raised in 1760 or 1761 is 
unknown, but probably in 1761, as the record speaks of it as, 
being unglazed in November of that year. 

Among the Rev. Dr. Cofiin's sermons are two which are- 
stitched together, having the same text, Phillipians 4 : 6, and 
at the end is the following note in his hand-writing : " Nar-- 
rag: No. 1. Sept: 6. 1761. A et P.M. Ibid Aug: 15. 



1 The Beech Plaiu road is the one oa which Mr. Peter Emery now lives. 



56 BUXTOK CENTENNIAL. 

1762. the first sermons that were deHvered in the Meeting 
House." 

As the meeting-house was unglazed in Nov., 1761, it is 
hardly probable that the first sermon in it was preached Sept. 
6, 1761. Though Dr. Coffin's note does not leave the date 
quite free from doubt, yet I think we may consider it to be 
reasonably certain that the first public worship in the then 
new meeting-house and on the spot where the present meet- 
ing-house now stands was held Aug. 15, 1762 (which was 
Sunday), one hundred and ten years ago. The sermons 
make no allusion to the occasion. 

Committees were at the same time chosen to take care of 
the timber on the undivided lands, and to prosecute those 
trespassing thereon, and " to make amendment to those lotts 
on the letter C. that falls Short of measure : by Some Com- 
mon or undivided land in Said township Equevelent for qual- 
ity & make Report of their doings at our next meeting for 
Confirmation." 

Under date of Oct. 10, 1761, a meeting was requested by 
the following-named proprietors, all of whom were probably 
then living in this town, viz. : John Boynton,^ John Lane, 
Samuel Merrill, Samuel Leavitt,^ Eleazer Kimball,^ Timothy 
Hasaltine, Nathan Woodman, Jonathan Clay, Humphrey 
Atkinson,* John Nason,^ William Hancock, John Elden, Jo- 
seph Woodman, John Brooks, Stephen Safford, Job Roberts, 
David Martin, John Cole, Richard Clay. 

As one of the requests by these persons for a meeting was 
to see whether the proprietors would " choose a Comm'''^ To 
Give m"" Paul Coffin a Call for Settling as a Preacher of the 
■Gospell in Said Township," the following addition was made 
to the petition : " We, being Non Propr' the Inhabitants of 
S^ Township have Signed in favour of m' Paul Coffins Call." 

» See Appendix J. 2 See Appendix R. s See Appendix A. 

< See Appendix N. See Appendix O. 

8 These names are found in Goodwin's Narraganset as spelled by the proprietors' 
clerk, and, probably, not in all cases as the writers themselves spelled them. I give 
here the epejung now in common use. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 57 

John Bunnell, Ebenez" Redlon, Daniel Leavitt, Benj" Dun- 
nell, Richard Clay, jr., Jacob Redlon, Tho' Sands,^ Sam^ 
Rolfe, Joseph Leavitt, James Emery .^ 

The name of Rev. Paul Coffin is here mentioned for the 
first time in the proprietors' records. Before him the Rev. 
Timothy White preached six months in 1750, and perhaps 
longer. Rev. Joshua Tufts preached from March, 1756, to 
April 25, 1758. Charles Coffin, Esq., says that Mr. Tufts 
was followed by a Mr. Thompson. There were, perhaps, 
others who preached for short periods before the coming of 
Mr. Coffin. They were not settled, but were hired tempora- 
rily and paid by the proprietors. 

The meeting in accordance with this request was held 
Nov. 12, and continued by adjournment to Nov. 16, 1761. 
It was doubtless held at the house of Capt. Woodman, as 
requested in the petition. It was then " Voted that the 
Propr' will give M"" Paul Coffin fifty Pounds Sterling a Year 
& So Yearly if he See Cause to Settle with us in the work 
of the ministry 

" Voted also 100 £ Lawful money to be Given him as an 
Encouragm* to Settle with us in the work of the ministry. 

" Voted also in Case m'' Coffin should Settle with us & 
Carry on the work of the ministry, we will make him reason- 
able additions, (Besides what we have already Raised for his 
Support in the ministry) as shall be Thought needful & Con- 
venient - 

" Voted & Chose Cap* Joseph Woodman William Han- 
cock & Timothy Hazeltine as a Com'"* to Lay the above Votes 
before m"" Paul Coffin & Pray his answer as Soon as may be 
Convenient." 

A committee was chosen to open, clear, and exchange 
roads, and $120 was voted for this purpose, and .£1, old ten- 
or, allowed for a day's work. A committee was chosen to 



> See Appendix V. 2 See Appendix W. 



58 



BUXTON CENTENNIAi. 



take care that there be no tuiiber cut on the common lands, 
and to prosecute trespassers. 

A request in the petition for this meeting was " To See if 
the Proprietors will hire a School master in S^ Township for 
Six monts." 

The record of the meeting does not show that any notice 
of this request was taken. This was the first time that the 
question of paying a school-master was brought to the atten- 
tion of the proprietors. It does not seem to have received 
their favorable consideration, but in this very year a school 
was kept in town by Mr., afterwards Rev., Silas Moody. He 
entered the town for this purpose Aug. 20, 1761, in company 
with Rev, Paul Coffin. We may well suppose that this was 
the first school, and Mr. Moody the first school-master.^ 

Charles Coffin, Esq., says that Mr. Moody was the first 
school-master employed by the settlers, and that " those who 
received the benefit of his instruction have uniformly borne 
the highest testimony to his ability and fidelity as a teacher, 
and considered it sufficient praise to bestow on the most emi- 
nent of his successors that he was next to ' Parson Moody,' " 

Mr. Daniel Dennett, under date of Jan. 12, 1873, writes 
to me as follows : " I will give you David Dennett's state- 
ment about the old school-house in his own language. The 
first school-house at the lower end of the town, if not the 
first in town, stood in Joses Hopkinson's pasture, on the 
south-east side of the old Martin road, near Amos Kimball's 
land. I went to school there 70 years ago. David Coffin 
and the children from Beech Plain and Salmon Falls w^ent. 
After they built the school-house at the Lower Corner they 
moved the school-house down on to Thomas Atkinson's land. 
I took the above from David in 1867. Stephen Atkinson, 
when married in 1811, took his wife to his father's to live. 



1 Rev. Silas Moody was bom in Newbury, May 9, 1742, gi'aduated at Harvard 1761, 
was settled at Arundel, now Kennebunkport, 1771. He married Mary, daughter of 
Rev. Daniel l.itlle, of Kennebimk, Sept, 9, 1773. Died April 7, 1810, after a miuistry 
of more than forty-live years. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAli. 



59 



After living there four years the house became too small for 
so many women, and he moved into the school-house and 
lived there until he built him a small house, which in after 
years was a porch to a new house. When it became neces- 
sary to have a new school-house, the district sold this old 
house to Stephen Prescott. He moved it home and used it 
for a shop to make shingles. It took fire and burnt up." 

At the same meeting it was " Voted that the proprietors 
give to Samuel Merrill the old meeting house for said prop* 
meeting in Said merrills dwelling house on Lords days here- 
tofore." 

A committee was appointed to make up, out of the un- 
divided lands, all deficiences which were made by mistake in 
surveying the "home lotts." 

Also " Voted there be raised 200£ Lawful money to 
Defrey the Charges that have arisen & not yet Paid towards 
buildino; the meetino; house & what shall remain to be Laid 
out in Glazing the meeting house 

" Voted & Chose Cap* Jeremiah Hill Cap' Joseph Wood- 
man & Lieu' Joshua Woodman as a Com'®^ to Lay out the 
200 X abovementioned for the purposes abovementioned & 
also to Groundpin Said meeting house" 

Voted to raise <£60 for necessary charges. 

On the 11th of June, 1762, John Brooks and Joseph 
Woodman, as a committee of the proprietors, report that 
they had laid a triangular piece of land of about 104 acres 
into two lots, one for the first minister and the other for a 
parsonage lot. The lot thus laid out for the first minister be- 
came a part of the homestead farm of Rev. Paul Coffin. 
For report in full see Goodwin's Narraganset, page 186. 

By an act of the General Court passed Feb. 16, 1762, a 
committee was appointed " to run out the lines of the towns 
of Biddeford Scarborough & Falmouth & fix the bounds of 
the townships of Narragansett No. 7 — Narragansett No. 1 — 



60 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

& Pearson Town." This committee agreed to meet at 
Capt. Joshua Freeman's in Falmouth (now Portland), Sept. 
1, 1762, and at a meeting of the proprietors held July 27, 
1762, Joseph Gerrish, jr., Esq., was chosen to represent the 
interests of Narragansett No. 1, before said committee. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house Nov. 3, 
1762. ^oO sterling was voted to Mr. Coffin for preaching 
the year ensuing. 

£20 lawful money was voted " to defrey the charge of or- 
dination the Year Ensuing." It was voted that no pews be 
built this year. 

A committee was appointed to prosecute trespassers and 
another to lay out the undivided land, and Mr. John Brown^ 
was appointed to assist them as surveyor. 

John Lane^ and Job Roberts^ reported to this meeting that 
they had made an exchange with Timothy Hasaltine, by 
which they have given to him the four-rod-way lying be- 
.tween the "home lotts " 4 and 5 of Letter G, and had "laid 
out an high way of three rods wide on the Southerly Side of 
the Sixth lott on the Same letter G : from End to End there- 
of, which lott said Hasletine is now in Possession of." 

This three-rod-road was from where Mr. Nathan Wood- 
man now lives, passing the southerly side of the house then, 
probably, occupied by Mr. Hasaltine, and now by Mrs. Tris- 
tram Woodman. 

The record of the next meeting, held Feb. 10, 1763, in 
Newbury, is as follows : 

"Cap* George Jewett Thomas Gage Esq & Joseph Leavitt 
were Chose & Impowred as a Comm*^^ To assist in Ordain- 

> See Appendix Q. 2 See Appendix L. 

3 John Brown, who, I suppose, was of Newbury, Mass., made the survey, and his 
raap of it is now in the State House in Boston. It emliraces parts of the present towns 
of Saco, Scarborough, and Westbrook, and all of the present towns of Buxton, Gor- 
ham, and Standish; the last named being then called Pearson Town. There is in Stan- 
dish a beautiful sheet of water called Watchet Pond. The true name is doubtless of 
Indian origin, but is utterly for;;otten. On Brown's map it is called Sewassuck, 
This long-lost name now comes again to liglit. I trust that the good people of Standish 
will now baiiisli the corrupted name, re-establish the old one, and never let it fall 
again into oblivion. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 61 

ing M' Paul Coffin as a minister of the Gospell, & Pastor of 
the Church that may be Gathered at said Narragansett, on 
the third Wednesday of Marcli next." 

We have ah-eady seen that on the 16th of November, 
1761, it was voted to give Mr. Paul Coffin a call to settle in 
the work of the ministry. Mr. Coffin began to preach here 
as early as March 22, 1761, as appears by a memorandum 
on the first sermon he ever preached, and that sermon he 
preached here on that day. That very sermon I now hold 
in my hand. It was not only the first sermon he preached 
anywhere but probably the first one that he preached in this 
town.i He was then 23 years old. Though he received the 
call in November, 1761, he does not seem to have given a 
formal answer to the invitation until something more than a 
year afterwards, when he replied in writing as follows : 

To the Propr' of Narragansett Township No 1 — Gent™ 
Having Considered the Invitation you Gave me to Settle in 
this place in the Capacity of a Minister of the Gospell, & 
pastor of the Church to be Gathered here ; And having nev- 
er heard of any Uneasiness among the people here about my 
Doctrine or manner of life, I declare my self pleased with 
your Invitation, & ready to Settle as aboves'd, as Soon as 

may be Judged Convenient 

From Gentl"" Your Friend & 
Narragansett N" 1 — Serv' in the Gospel — 

Jan'y 31 - 1763^ Paul Coffin- 

To Mess" Will"" Hancock 
Joseph Woodman & Timothy 
Hazeltine Com'^" to be Communicated 
to j" propr^ 

1 The memorandum at the ead of this sermon is as follows: "Narragansett No 1. 
March 22 1701. A et P. M." Since this address was delivered I have discovered that 
this was not the first sermon which he delivered here. He begins sermon No. 975 as 
follows : " I have now preached in this Town more than 47 years, i. e. from Feb. 8, 
1761, to the present time," 180S. Feb. 8, 17G1, was Sunday. The time when he began 
to preach here is thus fixed with certainty. 

' The answer of Mr. CofBn as here copied is taken from the proprietors' records. In 
spelling and capital letters it is, probably, not an entirely correct transcript of the or- 
iginal. 



62 BUXTON CENTEKNIAL. 

This answer was communicated by the committee to the 
proprietors in the following words. 

"To the propr° of Narragansett Township No-1 — Gent" 

Being by You Chosen to wait on m'' Paul Coffin with Your 

Invitation of him to Settle as a minister of the Gospel in this 

place, We have Accordingly Done so, & Received, & here 

send his answer in the Affirmative Inclosed ; We Beg a 

Propr' meeting may be Immediately warned, to Chuse a 

Com*^* to be here on the day of his Ordination to Give their 

Consent thereto — And to see if they will appoint the first, 

& if not that, the Second or third Wednesday of Next march 

for the day of said Ordination — And to See if the persons 

who offer to make the Entertainment, for that Occasion may 

be Intitled to the money Voted therefor 

Joseph Woodman ) p t« 
Timothy Hazeltine ) 

Narragansett No - 1 - 1763 Jan^y 31 — 

We the Com**^* of the Inhabitants do say 

amen to the above 

John Nason — Timothy Hazeltine 

Jacob Bradbury Ju' — Com'"' 

The propr° at the Westward in Compliance to the 
above Desire have agreed & fix'd upon the third Wednesday 
of March next for the Day of M'' Paul Coffins Ordination as 
above — 

In Behalf of said Propr* Joseph Coffin Cle''" 

The ordination took place March 6, 1763, and a record of 
it was made as follows by the Rev. Daniel Little, Scribe. 

" The Pastors & Delegates of the following Churches Con- 
vened in Council at Narragansett N° 1. For the Incorpora- 
tion of a Christian Church & the Ordination of m' Paul Cof- 
fin to the work of the Gospell ministry, & Pastoral office 

there - - (viz) The first & second Church in Wells The 

Church in Biddeford - The Church in Pepperelbo rough and 
a messenger from the Second Church in Scarborough 



BUXTON CEISTTEKNIAL. 63 

The Rev'' M' Moses Morrill Moderator 

The Rev'' M' Daniel Little Scribe - prayers by the Mod- 
erator 

The Church Incorporated in the presence of the Councill 
Consisting of Seven members, Six of whom produced their 
Dismissions from the Respective Churches to which they be- 
longed, to the Satisfaction of tlie Councill. The Seventh 

viz Bradbury the Councill Voted to Receive into the 

number for Constituting the new Church, upon the Pre- 
sumption that his Request for a Dismission from the first 
Church in Scarborough was Granted, tho Seasonable Care 
had not been taken to Convey it to said Councill 

After the moderator in the name of the Councill had de- 
clared the new Church to be a Regular Consreirational 
Church, every member had liberty to offer any thing to the 
Councill as matter of Dissatisfaction with respect to the Char- 
acter of Either of their Brethren, or the Constitution of the 
Church, but nothing was offered. — Upon which they were 
desired to Signify their Concurrence with the Proprietors in 
their Choice of m'' Paul Coffin to be the minister of that 
place, & their own Choice of him, to be their particular pas- 
tor, which was done with perfect unanimity in the presence 
of said Councill — Mr Coffin their Elect pastor was then Called 
into the Councill & Declared his Confession of Faith, the 
Grounds of his hope as a Christian, & the Views with which 
he Entered, upon the Gospell ministry to the Satisfaction of 
the Councill, The Councill then Voted that their way was 

Clear to proceed to Ordination And the Publick Services 

were appointed to be performed as Follows viz. 

The Rev'' m'' Fairfield to Begin with prayer 

The Rev" m"" Little to Preach 

The Rev" m"" Morrill to give the Charge, & Conclude with 
prayer 

The Rev" ni"" Hemenway the Right hand of Fellowship - - 
The above Services Began at twelve O'Clock, Performed 



64 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

with decency & Gravity Suitable to their Nature & Impor- 
tance - - The Congregation Dismissed a Quarter of an hour 
after two — A very Plentiful Entertain ment^ for the Councill 
& Strangers, Provided at the Expence of the proprietors, 
whose Generous & Various Cares for the Felicity of the In- 
habitants of this place, in erecting a Spacious Meeting house, 
& in the Settlement of the Gospell ministry among them we 
take notice of with abundant Pleasure ; & Cordially wish 
both pastor & people may be happy in the Constant Presence 
& Blessing of God our Saviour . - - and that the Worthy 
Propr^ may have long Occasion of Joy in the Fruits of their 
Zeal for the interest of Religion & Virtue among this People. 

Narragansett N° 1. 

March y' 16* 1763. 

A True Copy Attest 

Daniel Little^ Scribe" 

Charles Coffin, Esq., says that "on the day previous to 
the ordination, the Rev. Messrs. Little and Hemraenway of 
Wells, with their delegates and other gentlemen, commenced 
their march on snow shoes, Avest of the usually traveled 
road, through the present town of Lyman and Hollis, a dis- 
tance of less than twenty miles ; but mistaking their way 
they struck the Saco above the settlement in Buxton, and 
remained in the woods and snow one night, suffering from 
cold, hunger, and want of sleep ; but reached the settlement 
the next day in season to complete the ordination services. 



I Iq Goodwin's Narraganset, page 212, is a note by him on this word as follows : 
Elder Peter Libby writes me that " Mr. James Emery, an early settler, used to say he 
' took his dog and gun and went hunting and caught a moose and a minister.' By 
catching the moose ho was enabled to supply the meat for the feast at the ordiuatiou 
of the llev. Paul Coffin, as there was no other meat to be had." 

*The Rev. Daniel Little was born in Newburj'port in 1723. He received the degree 
of A. M. from Hai'vard in 17CC. Was settled over the 2d parish in Wells, now Kenne- 
buuk, March 17, 1751, and remained as p.astor until his death, Oct. 5, 1801. His first 
wife was Mary, daughter of Rev. Joseph 'iinerson, of Slalden. She died June 2, 1758, 
aged 32. His second wife was Sarah, daughter of Col. Joseph Coflin, of JS'ewbury, and 
sister of Kev. Paul Coffin. Slie died Dec. 19, 1804. He settled in that part of Wells, 
now Kennibunk, known as " The Landing." Ho left there and removed to a place 
about a mile west of the village, where he died. 



BUXTON^ CENTENNIAL. 65 

having been joined by the Rev. Messrs. Morrill and Fairfield 
of Biddeford and Saco, with their delegates." 

" Thus," he continues, " was settled, for life, a young man 
born and educated in polished and literary society with less 
than thirty families in the town, most of whom were covered 
from the inclemency of the weather by log houses, without 
a single educated parishioner. An affectionate brother and 
classmate, present on the occasion, once said, ' I pitied broth- 
er Paul, whose education and social qualities fitted him to en- 
joy if not to adorn the most cultivated and polished society, 
that he should have his lot cast in that then forbidding field 
of labor ; for I knew that he would have given all that he 
then had or ever expected of this world's goods to have 
avoided it. But the settlers were unanimous for him to re- 
main with them, as were the proprietors that he should re- 
main, and the path of duty appeared plain, which, however 
rugged, he never refused to enter ; for,' said he, ' brother Paul 
was a conscientious man.' " 

He was settled for life ; and here, through life, on a small 
and at times poorly paid salary, he remained and brought up 
a numerous family. During the eight years' war of the revo- 
lution he did not receive twenty dollars in specie. But for 
his farm and his own personal labor thereon he would at 
times not have been able to furnish wholesome food and de- 
cent clothing for his family. His sons, when old enough, 
assisted him upon the farm, and his daughters, besides per- 
forming the ordinary work of the household, had practical 
knowledge of carding, spinning, and weaving. 

In the year 1792, he was invited to succeed the learned 
and distinguished Dr. John Tucker of Newbury in his na- 
tive parish. " His parishioners a third time expressed their 
wishes for his continuance with them by their vote, and by 
adding to his salary, which being taken into consideration, he 



66 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

concluded to spend his days with them, altliough to him no in- 
vitation couhl iiave been more gratifying." 

In May 1799, it was his distinguished privilege to preach 
the annual election sermon in Boston before " His Honor, 
Moses Gill, Esq., Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable the 
Council, Senate, and House of Representatives of the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts." 

In 1812 the title of Doctor of Divinity was conferred up- 
on him by his Alma Mater, Harvard College, I again quote 
from his son Charles; 

"Dr. Coffin was a learned man, and was able to read the 
Scriptures in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, to 
which he added a knowledge of tlie French, which he wrote 
and read with ease. He was a student through life. As a 
preacher he was argumentative, accompanied with an earnest- 
ness and emphasis of manner which attracted and kept the 
attention of his hearers to the end of his discourse ; and he 
never gave them what cost him nothing, but every sermon 
was written after the subject-matter of it had been fully con- 
sidered. 

" With the most enlightened part of the community, as a 
preacher and a gentleman he was not only acceptable, but 
sought after and admired. No one in his vicinity during his 
whole ministry was more so. His cotemporaries in civil life, 
the Wingates, Pickerings, Pickmans, Parsons, Bradburys, 
Sewalls, Wells, Gorhams, and Longfellows sought his society, 
for they felt themselves refreshed by it, and his presence 
checked no decent joy. His most intimate acquaintances 
among the clergy were those who stood high for their learn- 
ing and piety ; such as Tucker, Webster, Balch, Symmes, 
Little, Hemmenway, Moody, Haven, Fairfield, Deane, Por- 
ter, Fessenden, and Belknap. 

"He measured men's minds with precision, and entered into 
their motives as one acquainted with the Avorld. He was 
distinguished for hospitality and loved society, though his 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 67 

habits and situation did not allow him to enter it extensively ; 
but he received his friends and brethren cordially and con- 
versed as one happy to see them ; both to entertain them 
and refresh and invigorate himself. * * * From his pro- 
fession and retired situation Dr. Coffin communed more with 
himself than most men, even the most pious. He conversed 
w^ith the past, for there his earthly pleasures were ; and en- 
tered into the future, for there were liis hopes of heaven, 
which grew more serene as age stole upon him ; and from 
this state heaven released him without a pang in the eighty- 
fourth year of his age. * * * From a wilderness when 
he came to Buxton, he lived to see it one of the most pleas- 
ant and beautiful towns in the State of Maine, containing 
nearly three thousand inhabitants ; and Maine, from a poor 
and distant province, he lived to see an independent State, 
and to aid and assist in the foundation of Bowdoin Colleo-e."^ 

I make the following extract from his farewell sermon, 
preached in the fall of 1820, which perhaps some here present 
may remember to have heard as it fell from his lips : 

" Finally. One word to this assembly and I have done. 
Through the goodness of God, I have been in this place 
sixty years lacking about five months. Early in the year 
1761 I came to this town, then called Narragansett No 1. 
The only preacher and pastor of this flock have 1 been till 
three years back God gave me a colleague,^ since which time 
he has been in effect the only laboring minister ; and now 
more truly so. Four grown persons whom I first knew are 
living. One of them has been a member of this church 
from its beginning. Viewing the length of time and a few 
other circumstances, I have had a peaceable day. Part of 
my time was such that I could not spend it all in the service 
of the parish. I yet attended all sick families. And I think, 
I never denied a requested pastoral visit. 

1 He was one of the first Board of Overseers. 2 Rev. Levi Loring. 



68 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

Few of the parish, if any, were my open enemies. Many 
were good and kind to the last. Their names are pleasant 
and precious. ***** While I live I shall pray for 
the peace and increase of this church, and I ask all chris- 
tians to pray for me, that I may see many, hitherto negligent 
and some of my own children among the rest, becoming pil- 
lars in this church. Pra^^ my brethren, not only for this 
society, but for the whole town, yes, and for the whole world, 
that God's kingdom may come in all the earth ; and remem- 
ber your aged friend ; pray that his last days may be his best 
days, and that his end may be peace.- Finally, brethren, 
farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, 
live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with 
you."^ 

" When informed by his physician that a few minutes 
would carry him to another world, he replied. ' I did not 
think I was going so soon ; but I believe I have that faith 
which will carry me to Abraham's bosom,' and immediately 
passed to a future life." 

He was born in Newbury, Jan. 16, 1737, old style, being 
January 27, 1738, as we now reckon. He died June 6, 
1821. Well do I remember that calm June evening when, 
with my mother and other sorrowing relatives, in his pleas- 
ant chamber- study, where so many studious hours had been 
spent, I stood by the bedside of the aged and dying pastor. 



1 Dr. Coffiu in a manviscript note says, " This sermon may be called Valedictory dd : 
Oct. 22, 1820. It is quite uufiuished. It was mcuded a little iu the delivery." It was 
printed after his death. 

2 His house stood end to the road, about 100 feet, I think, south of the house now 
occupied by his grandson, Mr. Charles L. Coffin. The end door opened directly upon 
an open lawn lying bttweeu the house and the road. After his death his sou David 
built a new house, and the old one was sold and removed, to the great regret of many 
who would have preferred to have it renuiin where Dr. Coflin built it ; where he 
spent the gi-eater part of his life ; where his cliildren were born, and where he and his 
wife died. It is the house now occupied by Mr. Joseph Garland, and is probably the 
oldest two-story house in town. Dr. Coffm's study was the southwesterly room as the 
liousa formerly stood, in the second stoi^, and is the northwesterly room as the house 
liow stands. In that room ho died. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 69 

Nor less well do I remember that other day, the 8th of June, 
serene and beautiful, when, followed by a long procession on 
foot of relatives, parishionei'S, and friends, he was borne on 
the shoulders of those who had known and honored him to 
his last resting place under the shadow of that old meeting- 
house which some present have not forgotten, and in which 
for so many years he had broken the bread of life. 

" Remote from towns he rau his godly race, 
Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change, his place ; 
Unskillful he to fawn, or seek for power 
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour; 
Far other aims his heart had learned to prize, 
More bent to raise the wretched than to rise. 

"But in his duty, prompt at every call, 
He watch'd and wept, he prayed and felt for all ; 
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries 
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies, 
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, 
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." ' 

I beg your pardon if I have dwelt too long on the life of 
Dr. Coffin ; but my excuse, if any be needed, is that he be- 
longed to the period of which I am speaking ; that Buxton 
owes its name to him ;^ that through a long life he was, by 
education and position, one of the foremost and most wide- 
ly known men here ; and that his long service in advancing 
the moral and religious condition of the people of this town 
should not be lightly passed over on this centennial occasion ; 
but that the mem'ory of it, and of him, should be cherished 
by ourselves and handed down to our posterity. 

Standing here where he was so long known and honored, 
where his venerable presence and the sound of his voice are 
not yet wholly forgotten, wliere he so long taught the im- 



1 My mother told me that her father suggested the name of Buxton wh«n the town 
•was incorporated. Why he selected it I do not know. It was not, Bs has heen asserted, 
because his ancestors were from that town In England, for such is not the fact. My 
mother's statement is confinued by others of his descendants. 



70 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

portance of doing and of being good, and by his example 
bettered his instruction, and where, Avhen his spirit ascended 
to heaven, his mortal body was committed to the earth ; 
standing here under the influence of thoughts like these, I 
could do no less than lay upon his grave this humble tribute 
to his life and character. 

By the kindness of Mr. John D. Coffin, his grandson, we 
fortunately have before us to-day a good likeness of his grave 
and reverend countenance. It is a copy by Mr. John Brews- 
ter from an original painted by himself. 

Let us now go back to the ordination. The " very Plenti- 
ful Entertainment for the Councill & Strangers " was " at the 
expence of the proprietors " and seems to have been provided 
by Mr. Jolni Nason and Mr. Timothy Hasaltine, who on this 
day, or very shortly after, became the first deacons of the 
church. Where this entertainment was given we do not 
know ; but we do know that on the 9th of April, 1750, James 
Jewett of Newbury, conveyed to Timothy Hasaltine then 
of Haverhill, Mass., home lot No. 6, on letter G ; that on 
the 3d of Nov., 1762, Mr. Hasaltine was in possession of 
that lot; and that that lot is but a few feet distant from 
where we now are. We also know on the authority of 
Charles Coffin, Esq., that Mr. Hasaltine "settled within a 
few rods of the meeting-house," and we further know that 
on the 7th of July, 1783, he sold the said Lot 6, " with all 
the buildings thereon," to Thomas Cutts ; and we know that 
the house now owned by Mrs. Tristram Woodman, and 
standing on said lot, and for many years and until his death 
occupied b}' the worthy Samuel Cutts, Esq., is so old that no 
person now living knows when it Avas built. It is not im- 
probable that it was built by Mr. Hasaltine and that the or- 



BTJXTON CENTENNIAL. 71 

dination entertainment was held in that very house, which 
we have but to turn our heads to behold.^ 

No bill of particulars of tliat entertainment has come down 
to us. We only know that the Rev. Mr. Little says it was 
"plentiful." Our Gorham neighbors, more fortunate than 
ourselves, know that when their first minister was ordained 
in 1750, the ordination feast was supplied with two barrels of 
cider, two gallons of brandy, and four gallons of rum. Who 
will dare to say that our forefathers were on this grand oc- 
casion less liberal than those of Gorham ? 

Rum was then an indispensable article on all joyful and all 
solemn and all sorrowful occasions ; and when on that 16th 
of March, 1763, our predecessors, after the solemn exercises 
of the day were finished, went from the house of God, 
through the snow, to the house of feasting, we can well im- 
agine that the rum was not forgotten, and that those who had 
spent the preceding night, without cover, in the woods and 
snow on the other side of the river, took theirs with especial 
zest and thankfulness. 

The meeting-house lot contains one acre and a half, being 
eight rods wide and thirty rods long. 

It was conveyed on the 8th of April, 1761, by Isaac Han- 
cock to Jeremiah Hill of Biddeford, Joseph Swett of York, 
and Joseph Woodman of Narraganset No. 1, as a committee 
of the proprietors. 

The lot covers part of the burying-ground and most of the 
common. Mr. Hancock received three acres in exchange » 
That deed from Mr. Hancock should be in the hands of the 
clerk of the Parish. As it is not, I now take pleasure in 
presenting him with a copy of it. 

1 The house is shown in one of the photographic views taken by Mr. Simon Towle 
on the Centennial Day. For these and many other Yi" ys in Buxton the people of 
the town are under lasting obligations to him. 

A notice of Deacou Hasaltine and a copy of his will may be found in Goodwin's 
Narraganset, pages 217-219. In his last days he lived with his son William on the 
farm now owned and occupied by Isaac Woodman Eaton. He was buried near and-. 
on the westerly side of Mr. Eaton's house in a grave now obliterated by the plough. 



72 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

I must now take up again the regular order of my narra- 
tive, which I fear you may find somewhat prosaic and tedious. 

The next meeting was warned to be held at the meeting- 
house, and was held October 12, 1763. 

A committee was appointed " to make up the deficient 
sixty acre lots, if any." 

It was voted that the easterly half of the common and un- 
divided land, adjoining westerly the homestead of Rev. Paul 
Coffin, should be laid out to him " for the Second Division of 
the ministerial Right he being the first Settled minister," and 
the westerly half of the same " to the Ministry or Parson- 
age." And if the lots so severally laid out for Mr. Cofiin 
and for the parsonage should not hold out sixty acres to each, 
then the deficiency was to be made up to each out of some 
other common land. 

Fifty pounds were voted to defray the ministerial charge 
" the Present year which Year Began the Sixteenth of march 
Last." Sixty dollars was voted for highways, and the same 
sum for other necessary charges the year ensuing. 

On the 13th of October in this year the road, as now 
traveled from Mr, Peter Emery's to Mr. William Boynton's, 
was established by an agreement between the owners of the 
lots through which it ran and a committee of the proprietors. 
The agreement may be found in Goodwin's Narraganset, 
page 185. 

That road, we thus learn, has been traveled more than a 
hundred years. The next meeting was warned to be held at 
the meeting-house, June 20, 1764, and it was held on that 
day. 

In the warrant for this meeting is an article " To See if 
they will have the Town Incorporated." It was not acted 
upon, but it thus appears that the question of incorporation 
was agitated eight years before it actually took place. 

At this meeting fifty pounds sterling were voted for the 
salary of Mr. Coffin. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 73 

£27, old tenor (a depreciated paper currency), was voted 
to John Nason and ^£20 to Mr. Hasaltine " for providing for 
the Ordination more than was formerly voted." For these 
and otlier purposes £100, old tenor, was voted. It was 
voted to raise ^100 for highways, of which $60 was to be 
spent on the road " from merrills to the Pattent Land," that 
is, on tlie direct road frc n Salmon Falls to Saco, " & 40 dol- 
lars on Pleasant point road." From this it will be seen that 
the name " Pleasant Point " has been in use for more than 
one hundred years. £1, old tenor, was allowed for a day's 
work on the road, it being equal to 2s. 8d. sterling or about 
sixty-six cents in silver ; and the same for a yoke of oxen. 

A committee was chosen to settle with all former commit- 
tees and another to run out the town line. Capt. Thomas 
Bradbury and Ensign John Elden were chosen surveyors of 
roads. It is proper that I should here say a word about 
Captain Bradbury^ who was a prominent man in his day and 
belonged to this period of our history. He was born in 1699 
and married Sarah Merrill, They were, I suppose, both 
natives of Salisbury, Massachusetts. In 1748 and 1749, he 
had command of what was sometimes called the Saco Block 
House and sometimes the " Saco Truck House," situated 
directly on the bank of Saco river on the Bean farm in 
Hollis,^ about half a mile below Union Falls. This truck 
House was established especially as a post for the supply of 
the Indians with goods. The commander of the post always 
had a small military force under him, so that it was in effect 
what in those days was called a fort. 

It was built in 1780, three years before this town was 
granted by the General Court. I suppose that a commander 
and soldiers were constantly there until after the fall of 
Quebec. This fort, while it existed doubtless exercised a 
strong influence in promoting the safety of the inhabitants of 

»Now Dayton. 



74 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

this town from an attack by the Indians. No vestige of it 
remains. A grave-yard immediately adjacent to the fort 
marks the spot. The home of Capt. Bradbury^ was for 
many 3^ears in Biddeford. On the 30th of June, 1749, while 
in command of the Block House, he bought of Amos Chase, 
of Newbury, " Home Lot " 1, of Range D, which lot at that 
date had a dwelling-house on it. This dwelling-house was 
probably built b}^ Amos Chase, who was, as tradition and 
confirmatory facts inform us, one of the earliest settlers, and 
one of those who left town in 1744. In this house on Lot 
1, was probably born his daughter Rebecca, the first white 
child, as tradition informs us, born in this town. Mr. Chase 
afterwards settled in Saco, became a deacon of the church 
there and otherwise a prominent man, and died when he was 
nearly an hundred years old. Rebecca was the first wife of 
Mr. Chase Parker. She died in Pepperellboro,' now Saco, 
May 8, 1773, aged 29 years, before Mr. Parker moved to 
this town. So says the church record of Rev. John Fair- 
field. This makes her birth to have been in 1744, which 
causes me to doubt the truth of the tradition that she was 
the first child born here. 

The fact that there were eleven men in town in May, 1742, 
and probably, most of them married, militates against the 
supposition that, in those prolific days, no child was born un- 
til 1744. Mr. Fairfield's record of her age may, however, 
not be correct. The lot No. 1, above mentioned was con- 
veyed by Capt. Bradbury, Nov. 22, 1753, to his son-in-law, 
Samuel Merrill, who lived and died upon it. 

Capt. Bradbury was living in Biddeford on the 9th of 



* Mr. Folsom in his histoiy of Saco and Biddeford, page 248, says: " Capt. Bradbury, 
the commander of tlie Bloclc House during tlie war, removed to Biddeford after it3 
termination, having purchased a tract of land above tlie Falls, of which the estate of 
Mr. Dominicus Cutts now forms a part. He built a house with a garrison at that place, 
and a sawmill on the brook, but removed a few years after to Buxton." A li.st of his 
children may be found in the October number, 1868, of " The Historical Magazine," 
Henry B. Dawson, Editor. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 75 

September, 1762. On that day he bought Lot 1, of Range 
A in the second Division, on which the house of WiUiam 
Scribner now stands. Here he probably lived and here I 
suppose he died about the year 1774 or 1775, nearly one 
hundred years ago. His name appears in 1764 for the first 
time as an inhabitant of this town. He conveyed this Lot 1, 
of Range A to his son William, who lived on it. The estate 
of Capt. Bradbury, if any, was not administered upon. Mr. 
Scribner will show the site of the Bradbury house to any one 
who may wish to see it. 

In this year, 1764, a petition, without date, from the in- 
habitants of this town was before the General Court, which 
gives a lively impression of their trials and sufferings at this 
period. 

The petition is as follows : 

To his Excellency Francis Bernard Esq Commander in 
Chief in and over the Province of the massa*' Bay, the 
Hon^^® his majesty's Councill & House of Representatives in 
General Assembly Convened 
Plumbly Shew 

The Subscribers Inhabitants of Narra- 
ganset N° one In the county of York, That the said Settle- 
ment being a Frontier were under Continual Fears of the 
Indian Enemy, and were obliged to keep Watch and Ward 
till the Reduction of Quebec in 1759-^That before the two 
late years of Drouth & Scarcity they were few in number 
and very Poor, being scarcely able with their utmost Dili- 
gence in the Improvement of such means as their Situation 
afforded to procure the Nocessarys of Life-^Tliat the two 
years of Scarcity, almost reduced them to Famine :-^in ad- 
dition to which in the year 1762, a desolating Fire Ravaged 
their small Improvements, Burnt several of their Dwellings 



Note. — Persons seeking further information in regard to the Bradbiirys of Buxton 
will find it in Goodwin's Narraganset, and in the October number, 1868, of the " His- 
torical Magazine." 



76 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 



and much reduced the very little the Drouth had left 'em 
That these repeated calamitys obliged many of the then In- 
habitants for the preservation of Life to pluck up Stakes and 
leave the Settlement, and those that remained were Just pre- 
served from Perishing with Want, by the Relief afforded 
from some of the Neighboring Towns-^Tliat your Excellency 
and Honors did lay a Tax on the said distressed Inhabitants 
in the year 1762, To the amout of Forty four Pounds seven 
Shillings & six pence which they are unable to pay, as .many 
of the then Inhabitants are reduced to Penury by the calam- 
itys aforesaid, and removed to other places-'^and those that 
remain are in a Condition but Little Better-^ 

Wherefore your Poor Petitioners Humbly pray your Ex- 
cellency & Honours to Compassionate their distressed Cir- 
cumstances & Remit to them the said Tax and Grant 'era 
such other relief in the Premises as your Wisdom shall di- 
rect & your Poor Petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever 
Pray &= 

Joseph Woodman John Nason Joseph Leavit 

Joshua Woodman John Brooks Samuel Leavit 

Nathan Woodman John Cole Umphery Atkason 

John Boynton Ephraim Sands Daniel Leavit 
Will Hancock Tim'y Hasaltine James Emery 
Job Roberts John Lane John Elden 

Benjamin Donel Samuel Roaf Samuel Merrill 

John Donel John Elden Amos Hood 

In the House of Representatives October 31'' 1764 

Read & Resolved that the prayer of this Petition be 

granted by remitting the Tax of Forty Four Pounds Seven 

Shillings & sixpence laid on Narrugansott Township number 

One in the Year 1762, and that the Treasurer be directed to 

stay the Execution gone forth against them therefor 

Sent up for concurrence 

S : White Spk' 



BUXTOK CENTENlSriAi. Y7 

111 Council Nov. 1st 1764 — Read & Concurred 

Jn° Cotton D. Secry 
Consented to-^ 

Fra Bernard. 

In this year a third division of lots was surveyed and a re- 
port made thereon by the committee which had been elected 
for this purpose, and also for running the line between this 
town and Gorham.^ 

The next meeting was held in Newbury, Feb. 26, 1765, 
when it was voted that the return of the committee which 
had laid out the " third Division of Land in said Township 
be accepted & Recorded," and that all the lots in said divis- 
ion should be drawn for by the last Tuesday of the following 
May, and that any lot not drawn for by that time by the 
proprietors, should be drawn by a person empowered for that 
purpose. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house June 19, 
1765. 

Tristram Jordan of Biddeford was chosen clerk in place of 
Joseph Coffin of Newbury. Mr. Coffin had held the office 
of clerk for twenty-three years, and as he was now more 
than sixty-two years old, and as the time had come when it 
was desirable that future meetings hould be held here, he 
doubtless desired to be relieved from the necessity of riding 
on horseback eighty miles to attend them. 

He held the military title of colonel, and was the father 
of Rev. Paul Coffin. 

At this meeting a committee was appointed to sell lands 
for non-payment of taxes, and to give orders on the treasurer 
for the payment of the debts of the proprietors. 

A committee was appointed to make a deed for a gore of 
land to Samuel Leavit, adjoining the lot he lived on, and also 
to sell some other pieces or gores of land. 

* For report of this committee see Goodwin's Karraganset, page 217. 



78 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

Forty acres of land was confirmed to Samuel Merrill at 
Salmon Falls, it being " that forty acres of land which Lies 
by him and was Run out Last year as his Third Division ex- 
cepting out of Said Lot four acres of Land for a mill Privil- 
edge." The salary of <£50 sterling was voted to Rev. Mr. 
Coffin. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house May 28, 
1766. 

Lieut. Joshua Woodman was chosen moderator. The sal- 
ary of Mr. Coffin, .£50 sterling, was voted and also X33. 63 
8d. for general purposes. 

The report of a committee was accepted which laid out 
the road, substantially as it now runs, from "a White Oak 
Tree Before y*^ Reverend m"" Paul Coffins House" to Haines's 
Meadow. This road therefore has been opened for over one 
hundred years. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house October 
22, 1766. 

It was voted to confirm the proceedings of the last meet- 
ing. Sam'l Merrill and Capt. John Lane were appointed a 
committee to open and exchange roads. 

It was also " Voted the Part of y^ Floor around the wall 
of y* Meeting House Shou** be Laid out for Pew Ground also 
that Jeremiah Hill Escf [of Biddeford] Deacon Timothy 
Hazleton M"" John Hopkinson^ Samuel Scammons [of Saco?] 
& John KimbaP be a Committee to Lay out S^ Pew Ground 
& Sell as much of it as will underpin y* Meeting House or 
more in order to Build a Pulpit and finish y® House as they 
Shall See fit." 

The old bounds of the " home lots " as " Laid out and 
now Measured"' were confirmed. It was voted to assist 
Sam'l Leavit in his law suit " with the Trespassei's at Scar- 
borough." This suit I suppose grew out of a conflict be- 

i See Appendix S. " See Appendix A. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAI.. 79 

tween this town and Scarborour^h, as to the line between 
them. The conflict continued through many years. What 
were the precise claims of each party I do not know. This 
is a point in our history which perhaps can be determined by 
patient and careful investigation. 

A committee was appointed to consider a request of Capt. 
Joseph Woodman. What this request was does not appear, 
but it was probably in regard to his claim to Lot 3 of Range 
A, 2d division, on which lot his son Capt. Joseph Woodman 
afterward lived and died. Capt. Woodman, Sen., claimed to 
have drawn this lot and that the clerk failed to make a record 
of it. 

That claim is supported by an affidavit of John Brooks, 
which affidavit, now nearly a ' hundred years old, I hold in 
my hand. It bears the signature of John Brooks, which it 
may, perhaps, gratify some of his descendants, if he had any, 
to look upon. It was also voted to sell the grass on the 
meadows in the undivided lands at vendue. The right to 
cut it was sold to Capt. Joseph Woodman for $23. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house July 8, 
1767. 

Money was voted to pay Mr. Coffin's salary, <£50 sterling, 
and 53s 4d for advertising delinquent taxes and £20 for other 
necessary charges. 

A committee on accounts was chosen, and it was voted to 
send a petition to the General Court for an alteration of the 
law in regard to the sale of lands for taxes, and Jeremiah 
Hill, Esq., was appointed to prefer the petition. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house, June 
22, 1768. 

The Rev. Mr. Coffin's salar}^ of £50 sterling was voted, 
and £5 was voted to carry on lawsuits, in behalf of the pro- 
prietors, and a committee was chosen to attend to these law- 
suits, which, I suppose, involved the line between Scar- 
borough and this town. A committee was also appointed 



80 BTJXTON CENTENNIAL. 

to change and open roads, and another committee to sell the 
four rod road between the 9th and 10th home lots on letter 
B, and another to sell the grass. 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house July 26, 
1769. 

Mr. Coffin's salary, £30 sterling was voted. 

A committee was chosen " to Try y* Proprietors Title in 
a Gore of Land, Adjacent to Scarbor" and to apply to y' 
Great and General Court of y^ Province of y° massachusetts 
Bay for y*" Confirmation of the Town Lines Between Narra- 
gansett No 1 Scarbor" & Gorharn which was Settl*^ by y' 
General Courts Late Committee." .£20 was voted for this 
purpose. A former committee for raising taxes and giving 
orders for the payment of the proprietors' debts and for sell- 
ing delinquent proprietors' lands for non-payment of taxes 
was continued. 

Voted to sell to the highest bidder the grass on the com- 
mon and undivided lands, and a committee was appointed for 
the purpose, and to spend the money received therefrom on 
the highways. 

The committee which was appointed Oct. 22, 1766, in re- 
gard to laying out the pew ground, etc., was directed to stand 
and to act conformably to that vote. 

One of the Articles in the warrant calling the meeting of 
July 26, 1769, was " To Chuse a Committee to Lay out y* 
Pew Ground of y^ meeting [house] in S** Township and Sell 
y* Same to Such as will Buy in order to underpin the meet- 
ing House and Build a Pulpit and to finish the meeting 
House as far as y* money will Go." 

We thus see that some years after the building of the 
meeting-house, the minister was still without a pulpit and the 
people had no pews, but only benches, and that the house had 
no underpinning. 

It was voted to sell such lots in the third division as re- 
mained undrawn. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 81 

Tlie committee for selling the 4 rod road between Lots 9 
and 10 Letter B, 1st division, was reappointed. At the same 
meeting the following important vote was passed : 

" Voted to Deacon John Nason Capt. John Elden Isaiah 
Brooks & Jabez Lane y* Privilege on Salmon Falls for a 
mill: to Build a Grist mill and S*^ mill to be built in Two 
years from y Date or S*^ Vote to be Void and to maintain a 
Grist mill there So Long as they Hold y® Priviledge." 

James Gray and Sam'l Dennett and Tristram Jordan dis- 
sented from this vote, but for what reason does not appear. 
The next meeting was held at the meeting-house July 25, 

1770. <£50 sterling was voted as the salary of Rev. Mr. 
Coffin. 

Committees were appointed to sell the grass, to make up 
the deficiency of the 1st and half of the 2d home lots on 
Letter E, if such deficiency should exist, and " to give a 
Deed of y^ four acres of Land Reserv* for a mill Priviledge 
on Salmon Falls to Cap . John Elden Deacon John Nason 
Isaiah Brooks & Jabez Lane." 

The mill privilege at Salmon Falls had been granted to 
them the previous year, July 26, 1769. They probably built 
the dam before the close of that year, and doubtless had a 
■grist-mill running before the vote was passed to give them a 
deed of the privilege. That they at the same time built 
a saw-mill is probable, but uncertain. At the same meeting 
it was voted to spend on the roads the money which they 
might obtain from the sale of grass. 

It was also voted to raise X13. 6s. 8d. "to assist Joseph 
Round [s]^ in Carrying on a Law Suit against Robert 
McDonald, now Depending." 

The next meeting was held at the meeting-house June 17, 

1771. The salary of .£50 sterling was voted to Rev. Mr. 

' For a notice of the Rounds family, see Goodwin's Narraganset. 
F 



82 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

Coffin. It was voted to sell the " Common meadow Grass" 
and spend the proceeds on the roads, and a committee was 
appointed to attend to both of these objects. It was also 
" Voted that the Proprietors in a Saw mill Built on Salmon 
Falls in Narragansett N" 1, Shall have a Privilege for a 
Road" tliere. This establishes the fact that there was a 
saw-mill there on the 17th of June, 1771, and from a deed 
dated June 30, 1772 (but not recorded), I learn that there 
was then a double saw-mill standintf there. 

It was voted that the widow of Joseph Rounds (he having 
died in 1770) shall have <£4. lawful money, as part of the 
X13. 6s. 8d. which was voted to assist him in carrying on a 
law-suit against Robert McDonald. A committee was ap- 
pointed to open and exchange roads. 

The last meeting of the proprietors before the incorpora- 
tion of the town was held in the meeting-house on the 17th 
of June, 1772. 

Deacon Amos Chase of Saco was present and acted as 
moderator. 

The salary of £50 sterling was voted to Rev. Mr. Coffin. 
Six pounds was voted to Humphrey Atkinson^ to assist him 
in defending the title to his " home lot " against a suit 
brought by Winslow. 

A commission of four pence on the pound was voted to 
Samuel Scamman, treasurer, for collecting the proprietors' 
money. 

A committee was appointed to proportion the proprietors' 
taxes, and to advertise and sell lands for non-payment of 
taxes, and to draw orders on the treasurer for the proprietors' 
debts. Voted to sell the grass to the highest bidder and that 
the money arising therefrom should be paid to the treasurer, 
and a committee was appointed to attend to the matter. 

A committee was also appointed to settle with the treas- 

' See Appendix N. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 83 

urer and with the committee appointed to sell lands belong- 
ing to delinquent proprietors. 

Having now reached the year when the town was incor- 
porated, let us endeavor to understand the state of things at 
that time. 

Twenty-two years had elapsed since the re-settlement. The 
fear of the savao-c Indian no lonajer existed, and labor was 
reaping a peaceful reward. A dense forest still covered the 
greater portion of the town, but the clearings were now num- 
erous, and the fields, though encumbered by stumps, yielded 
from the virgin soil an abundance of the necessaries of life. 
Many of the roads traveled to-day had been opened, and, 
though rough, were passable for carts. Roads for pleasure 
travel were not needed, for not a chaise,^ I suppose, was then 
owned in town. Instead of the first poor, weak saw-mill on 
Stackpole's brook, two saw-mills on Little River and a double 
saw-mill at Salmon Falls were doubtless in vigorous opera- 
tion and constanti'- employed. Two grist-mills, one on Lit- 
tle River and one at Salmon Falls, ground the corn, the rye, 
and the wheat ; and no longer was it necessary that a poor 
settler should carry the meal on his back from Saco to his 
hungry family, as is said sometimes to have happened. 

Log houses were now giving place to frame ones, and the 
people were in this and all other respects daily bettering 
tlieir material condition. Hospitalit}^, as in all new and 
sparsely-settled countries, doubtless abounded ; and social ex- 
istence, if ruder than at present, was yet lielu together by a 
common sympathy, growing out of their equality and isola- 
tion and dependence one u])on another, which made it more 
warm-hearted, tender and true than it is now. 

A schoolmaster they had as early as 1761, as we have al- 
ready seen, and doubtless by this time a school for a short 
period was annually maintained. 

1 See Appendix T. 



84 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

A minister had for nine years been settled, and the people 
gathered together from Sabbath to Sabbath in the then new 
meeting-house ^ to join in the worship of Almighty God ; 
meeting on the very spot, within sound of my voice, where 
now for more than a century the gospel has been preached. 

Far different was now the situation from what it was thirty 
years before, when the eleven settlers in their prayer to the 
General Court say, what I have before recited, ' but may be 
|)ermitted to repeat, that they have " been put to very ex- 
traordinary Costs & Charges in Carrying on Our Settlements 
thus far — have been obliged to live without any Settled Pub- 
lick Worship of God among us — School for our Children — 
Publick Buildings or Necessary Fortifications : Whereby our 
own Lives & the Lives of our Families, with our Sub- 
stance have been in continual Jeopardy in this exposed Fron- 
tier ; & our Children under the Disadvantage of a Wilder- 
ness Education." 

With strong hands and stout hearts they had met and over- 
come the cliief obstacles in their path ; and we may now re- 
gard them as being in the enjoyment of a moderate but hap- 
py prosperity. 

It was this prosperity which induced them to petition the 
General Court for incorporation. There were more than 
sixty families in town ; the majority of the propi-ietors were 
now living here and doubtless felt the need of municipal au- 
thority to levy taxes for schools, roads, bridges,, and other 
lawful purposes ; and thus to compel all, and especially the 
unwilling, to contribute to the general welfare. 

The ambition for office, too, had, perhaps, some influence 
in inducing the more aspiring spirits to favor incorporation. 

The petition, after some opposition from the governor and 
from the council received favorable consideration, and hav- 

> That meeting-house was torn down and the present one erected in 1822. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 85 

ing passed both houses received the signature of the famous 
Governor Hutchinson, one hundred years ago. 

It is fit and becoming that that act, so important in our 
history, and the passage of which is the cause of our meeting 
here to-day, sliould now be read in the presence of this large 
and patriotic assembly, which the interest in this anniversary 
has here brouo;ht too-ether. 



"ANNO REGNI 

TERTII ^^'^^ 



REGIS GEORGII 
DUODECIMO 



An act for incorporating the Plantation called Narragan- 
set number one in the County of York into a Town by the 
name of Buxton. 

Whereas it has been represented to this Court that the 
plantation called Narraganset number one lying on the East 
side of Saco River in the County of York is competently 
filled with Inhabitants who labor under great difficulties and 
discouragements by means of their not being Incorporated 
into a Town. 

Be it therefore Enacted by the Governor, Council, 
and House of Representatives That the said Narraganset 
number one bounded Southeasterly at the heads of Bideford 
and Scarborough, Southwesterly by Saco River, Northwest- 
erly by Pearson Town so called and northeasterly by Gor- 
ham, be and hereby is Incorporated into a Town by the name 
of Buxton and that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby 
are invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities 
which the Inhabitants of other Towns in this Province by 
Law enjoy. 

And Be it further Enacted That Jeremiah Hill Esq' 
be and hereby is directed to issue his Warrant to some prin- 



86 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

cipal Inliabitant of said Town requiring him to warn the In- 
habitants thereof to meet at such time and place as shall be 
therein set forth, to chuse all such Officers as Towns are by 
Law impowered to chuse in the month of March annually : 
at which said Meeting all the then present Inhabitants shall 
be admitted to Vote. 



July 9 1772 — this Bill having been Read three several 
times in the House of Representatives — Passed to be Enacted 

Thomas Gushing Spk' 

July 9, 1772 — This Bill having been Read three several 
times in Council — passed to be Enacted 

Tho' Flucker Sec'' 



July 14th-1772-By the Governor 

T. Hutchinson' 



I Consent to the Enacting of this Bill 



Confining myself to the earliest period of our history, I 
have presented a full summary of the general course of pub- 
lic events from the very beginning down to the incorpora- 
tion of the town, so far as these events are known to me. 

I have followed closely the records of the proprietors and 
other official documents, most of which are accessible to you 
all in Goodwin's Narraganset, and have interwoven there- 
with such remarks of my own as it seemed to me would 
throw light upon the text and serve to present this portion of 
our history in a shape more compact, and more easily under- 
stood by the cursory reader than it appears in the official 
documents. * 

I regret my inability to do the subject better justice ; and 
I regret still more that there is so little left to throw light 
upon the period which has been under consideration ; and 
that, consequently, we know little of the life, character, 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 87 

manners, personal appearance, individual opinions, and modes 
of thought of our ancestors of that day. 

A veil of impenetrable obscurity covers much that it would 
interest us greatly to know. 

We know, however, that they were men and women with 
the same human nature that we have, and that therefore, ex- 
cept in outward circumstances, they differed little from our- 
selves. They had substantially the same hopes and fears, 
joys and sorrows, virtues and vices, and were consequently 
not much better or worse than their descendants. They 
were a poor, though not a spiritless people, and by daily toil 
earned their daily bread. There were few prominent and no 
great men among them, so that to most of us even their names 
are unknown. 

" Along the cool sequestered vale of life 
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way." 

But the work which was before them they did faithfully 
and well. They entered the mighty forest which covered 
this town and subdued it ; they made the paths which we 
travel to-day, and they laid the foundations of the schools 
and the churches which have blessed the town from their day 
to our own. They labored not in vain, and not for them- 
selves alone, but with thoughtful care for the welfare of those 
who should follow them. Unwittingly it may be, but surely 
nevertheless, we to-day are reaping in many ways the benefit 
of their struggling toil and wise foresight ; and we should be 
ungrateful did we not recognize our obligations to them, and 
do what we can to cherish their memory and preserve the 
slender memorials of them which are still left to us. 

And if most of them are forgotten and lie in unmarked 
graves, yet such is the fate which is in store for ourselves ; 
for in the words of Sir Thomas Brown, " most of us must 
be content to be as though we had not been, to be found in 
the register of God, not in the record of man." 



88 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, 
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 
Each in his narrow cell forever laid, 
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 

" The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, 

The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, 
The cock's shrill clarion or the echoing horn 
Ko more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. 

" For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, 
Or busy housewife ply her evening care ; 
No children run to lisp their sire's return. 
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. 

" Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; 
How jocund did they drive their team afield, 
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke. 

" Let not ambition mock their useful toil, 
Their homely joys and destiny obscure; 
'Not grandeur hear with a disdainful smile 
The short and simple annals of the poor." 

The plan of my address leaves me no time to speak of the 
men or the events of a later date than 1772. 

I leave a whole century untouched, and can make no men- 
tion of the honorable part which this town took in the Revo- 
lutionary war, nor of the four captains^ who were in it, — 
three, if not all, of whom sleep in the adjacent graveyard ; 
nor of other leading men and prominent events. This must 
be the task of the future historian of the town. 

My task is done. 

Ceasing now to contemplate the past of an hundred years 
ago, let us for a moment look forward and anticipate the 
glorious morning of an hundred years to come, when our 
children's children shall here be gathered to celebrate an- 



> Capt. John Elden and Captains John, Daniel, and Jabez Lane. See Appendix C 
andQ. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 89 

other centennial day. Then every drop of water in our 
loved and beautiful Saco on its way to the sea, will do service 
for the welfare of man as it contributes to move, with busy 
hum, the machinery of a great, varied, and beneficent in- 
dustry. 

The Buxton of to-day will then have given place to a Bux- 
ton which, we may hope, in population, in culture, and in all 
the arts and refinements which embellish and adorn civilized 
life, will be vastly in advance of our position now. 

On that day will come, as on this day have come, the men 
and the women of Buxton ; the hoary-headed father and the 
aged mother, with feeble steps ; men and women in the ac- 
tive vigor of middle life, and the young men and the maid- 
ens, fair to behold. 

The children too Avill come, and then, as now, with ob- 
serving eye and attentive ear, treasuring up the events of the 
day, will transmit the story of it to generations yet unborn. 

And when on that second centennial day, he who shall 
then hold the place that I hold now, shall stand in the pres- 
ence of the vast and splendid audience which will then be 
gathered, may he be able to say of us, as we of those who 
have gone before, that though our names are forgotten and 
we sleep in unknown graves, yet that in the humble path al- 
lotted to us we too served our generation faithfully and well, 
and that the world was the better for our having lived. 



At the conclusion of the Historical Address, the choir sung 
a selection, " Ode on Science," the Bands accompanying ; 
after which the President introduced the orator of the occas- 
ion, as follows : 

I now introduce to you, another son of Buxton who has 
made his home in the Far West, who has received honors 
from other people among whom he has cast his lot ; and now 
comes back to join with us in the reminiscences of other 
days, — Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, of Minnesota. 



ORATION, 



Sons and Daughters of Buxton : 

We are here to-day, coming from near and from far, to 
celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the incorpora- 
tion of our native town. We are here to rejoice in the 
present and recall the past. We shall here strike the dust 
from years long forgotten, and bring back scenes that till now 
lie buried in memory. We are here, many of us from our 
own motives, yet some have come, called hither by voices 
that come to us from the spirit land. Children are here be- 
cause parents, long since in dust, loved and cherished all the 
history of their native town. A journey of more than three 
thousand miles, in this season of dust and heat, calling for a 
neglect of personal interests, could not have been endured, 
however great the pleasure in store for me, but for my re- 
membrance that a father and mother, born and living here, 
loving profoundly the place of their birth and fondly cherish- 
ing all that clung to its history, would, if ahve, have called 
me here to this gladsome gathering. While ere my return, 
their graves will demand a tear, this day shall be one of re- 
joicing, and with you, I will pluck every sweet which each 
hour of the day can give. Then let the mind go back ; let 
it follow along the track of life till it reach the very begin- 
ning, and returning, call into life again a thousand now 
forgotten scenes. The old home, the house, the rooms, 
the cellar where the apples dwelt in winter, the wood-house, 
the barn, the orchard, the field, the pasture with its cow- 
path, the rocks, the trees, the stumps, the brooks, the 
streams, the holes for fish, the spring, the swollen Saco, 



92 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



the logs, the lost bridges, the teams in summer and in 
winter, the church, the school-house with its stern and 
kind master and mistress ; all these maj come before us. 
Let them come ; let the bright and joyous alone linger ; let 
the dark and sad soon depart. Thus let us hail the day and 
make it the happy day of life, one M'hose memories, to those 
who shall still abide here and to those who have adopted 
homes in this and other States, shall be fragrant during the 
whole of life remaining. 

God has kept back the rain and given us this pleasant 
morning, that here, on this classic ground, we, the old and 
the young, may commemorate the work of our fathers, recall 
their sufferings and honor their heroism. I rejoice to wit- 
ness this vast concourse. Welcome all ! I am glad to see 
the young, but to the old we extend our full greetings. Here 
on my right I see our venerable friend, Mr. Tristram Eaton. 
He has come down to us from a past generation. Long may 
he yet live. On my left, I see the elder Gerry Eounds, who 
lives upon the farm which his patriotic father, in part, paid 
for with the money received by him for service in the war for 
Independence. In front of me, I see the aged Widow Cobb. 
Others my eyes rest upon, but I cannot stop to call them by 
name. We are here from early youth to hoary age. We 
are here to rejoice and be glad. 

" Breathes there a man with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said. 
While wandering on a foreign strand, 
This is my owji, my native land? " 

But a native land may be less dear than a native town, for 
the former is but our civil home. No matter how rugged, 
no matter even if it fail to hold us when manhood and 
womanhood come, yet the native town to every one who has 
spent the whole or the first half of his majority in it, can 
never fail to attract. It will have some, yea many bright 
spots ; there will be some dell amid its ruggedness ; it will in 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 93 

some way arouse the soul ; it will have incidents to which 
the memory will run back. Though the memory may tell the 
story of poverty and of struggle, of hard work and disap- 
pointment, yet it will bring up words of love, of kindly sym- 
pathy, scenes of noble conduct and of innocent pastime, 
which shall fill the soul with profound pleasure ; a pleasure 
akin to that which is felt when for the first time it vibrated 
with their touch. 

The home of our birth and our childhood is in our native 
town ; it is here that in childhood we heard the divine ac- 
cents of love ; it is here that the soul first knew of its exis- 
tence ; it is here that it first perceived the marvellous beauty 
of nature ; it is here, also, that many felt the power of an- 
other love that gave birth to other homes and filled them 
with scenes and emotions peculiar to themselves. Thus a 
native town is replete with the most delicate and primal 
emotions of young life in the soul, not blunted by sense, that 
will remain a perennial fragrance. This day will recall inci- 
dents which shall tinge our thoughts for many a day to come. 
Who, then, cannot say ? 

" Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see, 
My heart, untraveled, fondly turns to thee." 

But the day must furnish lessons as well as pleasurable 
emotions. We must recall the history of the town. This 
has indeed, been most ably done by our learned historian to- 
day. We will cherish and preserve the results of his labors 
and we will keep a record of this day's work, not as a com- 
pliment to the participants, but that our children, an hun- 
dred years from to-day, may know what we said and did at 
the first centennial. They shall know that we spoke of the 
early and the later settlers of Buxton ; that we deemed it an 
honor as well as a duty to speak of their struggles. We will 
have it recorded that here the old and the young met ; that 
sons and daughters of Buxton came back from distant towns, 



94 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

counties, and States ; that a vast tent was made ; that pro- 
cessions were formed ; that the music of instruments and of 
many voices was heard ; that bells were rung ; that the can- 
non joined with its loud voice ; that flowers plucked from the 
fields and woods of the good old town formed the letters 
which said to us as we neared our place of meeting, " Wel- 
come to the Sons and Daughters of Buxton ;" that orations, 
speeches, and poems were read ; that thousands listened ; 
that tables, groaning with food, were spread for us ; that all 
were happy, yea merry, and thanked God for the day and 
the hour. 

Every development of human society and government 
comes from effort and sacrifice. Privations and struggles are 
a part of the early settlement. 

This is true whether it be made in the wooded section 
where the spotted tree guides the way, or out on the prairie 
where no tree directs the course. Here will be instances of 
endurance and courage, that will furnish the best exhibitions 
of true heroism. Here the human character and spirit will 
not infrequently challenge our admiration. 

I hold in my hand the address of the late Rev. N. W. 
Williams, delivered Oct. 17, 1850, on the occasion of the 
centennial celebration of the settlement of the town. An 
incident in the history of Robert Martin is told as follows : 

" Mr. Martin became destitute of breadstuff, at a time 
when none could be purchased nearer than Saco, and re- 
solved to go and obtain some. Of his endeavor to procure 
relief, he relates the following story : ' In the morning I got 
up and milked my cow, and drank some of the milk for my 
breakfast. I then started on foot with bag to obtain a sup- 
ply of food. It was about the last of May. On my arrival 
at Colonel Cutts', in Saco, I related my destitute condition, 
when he promptly supplied me with as much as I could carry 
on my back. I received one bushel of corn, twenty-eight 
pounds of fish, one gallon of molasses, two pounds of coffee, 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 



95 



and one pound of tobacco, and started for home with my 
load. When I reached Deep Brook I lay down my burden 
and drank of the stream and rested awhile. Again I went 
on with my load and reached as far as Captain Bradbury's, 
where I again unloaded, drank, and rested. Again shoulder- 
ing my treasure I started and soon reached my home, and 
took another draught of milk, which was the only food taken 
for the day. I then shouldered half of my corn, traveled 
two miles to the river, built a small raft, crossed over, got 
my grist ground at Ridlon's mill, and returned home with 
my meal. My journey and toil being ended, I sat down and 
waited while a cake could be baked, and suffered more than 
I did through the whole of the day, and felt as if I should 
die of fatigue and hunger.' " 

Such heroism as this honors our common humanity. 

The political organization of this town, obtained one hun- 
dred years ago, was an outgrowth of principles which for 
centuries had been struggling for a fuller and grander sway. 
This town, therefore, had a connection with the Revolution- 
ary period. It existed during that war, and indeed, had a 
part in the events which crowded on that great conflict. 
Right noble blood coursed the viens of many who had to do 
with our early history as a town. The mighty utterances of 
the Declaration of Independence found an echo here among 
our brave founders. The rights of the people and the usur- 
pation of King George were here discussed with intelligence 
and spirit. The grand doctrines of liberty had worshipers 
here in the then forest. They were training themselves for 
their part in the sublime vindication of their rights. When 
the time came, their courage failed not. Forty-five of our 
fathers marched to battle and some to death. The follow- 
ing is the record, the Roll of Honor : 

" The names of those who served in the Revolutionary 
war were John Lane, John Lane, jr., Daniel Lane, Jabez 
Lane, Isaac Lane, William Merrill (who died at home on 



96 BUXTON CENTENNIAI^ 

furlough), Thomas Bradbury, EHjah Bradbur}'', Winthrop 
Bradbury, William Hancock, Mr. Boynton (supposed to 
have died in the army), Ebenezer Ridlon, Ebenezer Ridlon, 
jr., David Ridlon, Samuel Woodsom, John Cole, Joseph 
Smith (taken by the Indians and never returned), Samuel 
Smith, John El well, Benjamin Ehvell, Jeremiah Rolfe, Wil- 
liam Davis, Thomas Davis, William Smith, Lemuel Rounds, 
James Rounds, Thomas Harmon, John Woodman, Nathan 
Woodman, Ephraim Woodman, Samuel Woodman, Joshua 
Woodman, Moses Atkinson, Richard Clay, jr. (who died in 
the army), Mr. Jose (supposed to be the onl3^ man killed in 
the army from this town), John Hanscom, and Michael 
Rand. Some others were out at Cambridge. John Elden, 
jr., and Roger Plaisted were in the battle of Bunker Hill. 
Daniel Hill was a subaltern under his brother, Jeremiah Hill 
of Biddeford. Several others were in one winter campaign 
at New York, among whom were Nathaniel Hill, John 
Owen, and Asa Simpson." 

As Americans we never fear to go back to our national 
beginning. We boast our founders. They cherished prin- 
ciples which, in the fullness of time, demanded for their 
support and protection, a government securing a broader and 
more generous' liberty than any which had gone before. The 
Revolutionary war did not alone seek to change the then ex- 
isting relations between the Colonies and Great Britain, but 
it sought for the recognition of new ideas of government. It 
was, indeed, a revolution of the relation between the govern- 
ing and the governed class. In fact, it reduced all to one 
class and then declared the great truth that by permission 
and the voice of this single class, the riglit to govern should 
come. How simple and yet how grand ! A complete real- 
ization of so perfect a system of government could not be 
attained without the display of a heroism as sublime as the 
principles involved in the contest. What history is nobler 
than that which records the enduring patriotism of our Rev- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 97 

olutionarj fathers ? How bold in their dechirations ! Their 
action was not less bold. There are passages in that history 
which are more than Spartan in the devotion displayed. 

They showed devotion to great elemental principles and 
evinced an unselfishness which the world had never seen 
equaled. What national founders ever, before our own, 
pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor f 
Where in history shall we find their equals ? They were not 
seeking personal glory nor dominion, but equal civil rights. 
What a moment was that, when the decision was made to 
seek those rights ! How much hung in the scale ! It was a 
moment when true courage was a vital element of success. 
Happily for our fathers and for us, it was not wanting. It 
ruled the hour. Patience had ceased to be a virtue. The 
great resolve was made, and then followed the bloody war. 
Says an eminent writer : " The ordinary occupations of life 
were abandoned ; the plow was staid in the unfinished fur- 
row ; wives gave up their husbands, and mothers gave up 
their sons, to the battles of a civil war. Death might come 
in honor on the field ; it might come in disgrace, on the 
scaffold, — for either and for both they were prepared." The 
following is a sample of the sentiments of the hour : " Bland- 
ishments will not fascinate us, nor will threats of a halter in- 
timidate ; for, under God, we are determined that whereso- 
ever, whensoevei', or howsoever we shall be called to make 
our exit, we will die free men." 

Such was their courage at the outset. It increased as the 
struggle went on. Who can read our national history and 
not have his soul set on fire, when it drinks in the story of 
patient endurance exhibited at every step during the w^ar of 
the Revolution? At Valley Forge did that endurance have 
its most terrible test. These thrilling pages should be read 
and re-read often by every American youth. A noble patriot- 
ism will be fed by them. They would be as fountains from 
which shall flow the sweet waters of noble, civic conduct. 



98 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

Fortunately for us and the cause of human Hberty and 
free government, God gave to be rulers and leaders of the 
Revolutionary period, purer and better men than had ever 
before put their hands to human government. We owe this 
statement to general history. We can name but a few of the 
many. What will you say against such heroes as Washing- 
ton, Adams, Hancock, Henry, Lee, Putnam, and Warren ? 
These were the great leaders of that day. They grasped 
the greatness of the cause committed to them. Their souls 
were true to their action. Their lives, some short and others 
long, wei'e full of true devotion to the public weal. To us 
the spot where the first great battle was fought, can never be 
other than sacred. Such was the feeling of Webster when 
he delivered the oration at the laying of the corner-stone of 
Bunker Hill Monument on the 17th of June, 1825. He 
said : •' We come, as Americans, to mark the spot which 
must forever be dear to us and our posterity. We wish that 
whosoever in all coming time shall turn his eye hither, may 
behold that the place is not undistinguished where the first 
battle of the Revolution was fought. We wish that this 
structure may proclaim the magnitude and importance of that 
event to every class and every age. We wish that infancy 
may learn the ])urpose of its erection from maternal lips, and 
that weary and withered age may behold it and be solaced by 
the recollections which it suggests. We wish that labor may 
look up here and be proud, in the midst of its toil. We wish 
that, in those days of disaster, which, as they come upon all 
nations, must be expected to come upon us also, desponding 
patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward and be assured that 
the foundations of our national power are still strong. We 
wish that the column, rising towards heaven among the 
pointed spires of so many temples dedicated to God, may 
contribute also to produce in all minds a pious feeling of de- 
pendence and gratitude. We wish, finally, that the last ob- 
ject to the sight of him who leaves his native shore and the 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 99 

first to gladden his who revisits it, may be something which 
shall remind him of the liberty and the glory of his native 
country. Let it rise. Let it rise till it meet the sun in his 
coming; let the earliest light of the morning gild it, and 
parting day linger and play upon its summit." 

Let us not at this moment longer dwell upon our Revolu- 
tionary fathers, but go still farther back in the track of his- 
tory, and find the real beginning of that line of events which 
culminated in the kind of government which we to-day en- 
joy, and the recognition of which we now so justly celebrate. 
When we do this, we shall find at this beginning the Pilgrim 
Fathers. They bore to these shores the germ of our civil 
liberty. They sought, indeed, for another liberty, the free- 
dom of the soul, the freedom of the mind. They did not 
look beyond this. They did not count for any other than 
the freedom of the soul, yet they are our founders, inasmuch 
as the freedom thev sought could not long exist without the 
protection of a government v>diich should recognize it. The 
germ then, I say, of our civil liberties was in the convictions 
of the Pilgrims. Governments come from a germ. They 
have it as much as the oak has it. A principle cherished by 
somebody and at some time, finally shows itself in the throes 
of society, and culminates in an organized government. Ef- 
fects follow causes. The Mayflower bore to the wild shores 
of New England the germ of our free institutions. It was 
not brought into being in that vessel ; it was in the hearts of 
its passengers. It was not born of them ; it had been the 
product of many generations. The time for its planting had 
come. They were the rough vessels in which it was borne 
to the wilds of America. It was to be and was planted here. 
Thank God that we can eat the delicious fruit which now 
hangs from every branch of the tree of civil and religious 
liberty. How full of interest ; yea, how big with the best 
hopes of the world was the Mayflower as seen from the 



100 BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 

frozen shores of New England. No eulogy can exceed the 
magnitude of the theme. 

In eulogy of that scarcely discerned speck upon the ocean, 
the great powers of Webster and Everett were almost year- 
ly engaged. These great men confessed their inability to do 
justice to the inspiring theme. They insisted that in that 
lone ship was the real and true germ from which sprung our 
national being and character. These men caught the true 
spirit of our national history. No vessel ever bore across any 
waters such a freight. It could not be estimated. Its value 
was beyond the power of computation. Of the value of the 
Mayflower's cargo Everett once said : " Within that poor, 
tempest-tossed vessel there lay on the eleventh of October, 
1620, a moral treasure of value wholly inappreciable, faintly 
conceived of even now by us its immediate inheritors, after 
two hundred years' possession ; principles of social and moral 
growth and improvement, which, for ages to come, will not 
be developed in all their virtue and efficiency." There were 
in that vessel the elements of our democratic form of gov- 
ernment, for on that day the first written Constitution of a 
popular government was drawn up and signed by the people 
assembled in convention for that purpose. " Cycles of hu- 
man history may pass before events of equal importance to 
humanity shall recur." Who can compute the disaster had 
this vessel been lost ? She would have carried to the bottom 
of the sea a freightage more precious than silver and gold. 
The cause of freedom and of equal rights would have per- 
ished. We would not be here to-day. The history of the 
human family would be destitute of the pages we Americans 
have written therein during these two hundred years. To 
the eye of the true reader of American history the May- 
flower is radiant with glory. She seems instinct with life it- 
self, for the life of a future nation is so wrapped up in her 
safety. The storm raged through her shattered canvas, yet 
they could not draw her from her destined harbor. All na- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 101 

ture seemed prepared for her defence. "We cannot forget the 
men and women within that beaten thou oh protected vessel. 
These Pilgrims were too noble to be forgotten. They had 
many faults, and committed grave errors, but we must not 
forget that they were after all the chosen agents in the es- 
tablishment of a great Republic. They bore hither the true 
seed. In weary exile they planted it. Under the spacious 
branches of the tree of liberty we now recline. Let us 
never do injustice to the men who planted it, though we may 
regret the errors they committed. The good far outweighed 
the bad in them. They demanded soul freedom. This was 
enough. They were austere, but who shall say that they 
did not need their austerity. They were the appointed 
agents, and this should cause us to praise them. 

Of the Mayflower, her cargo, the Pilgrims, their princi- 
ples and character, thus spoke the eloquent Everett : 

" Methinks I see it now, that one solitary, adventurous vessel, the 
Mayflower of a forlorn hope, freighted with the prospects of a future 
state, and bound across the unknown sea. I behold it pursuing, with 
a thousand misgivings, the imcertain, the tedious voyage. Suns rise 
and set, and weeks and months pass, and winter surprises them on 
the deep, but brings them not the sight of the wished-for shore. I see 
them now scantily supplied with provisions, crowded almost to suf- 
focation in their ill-stored prison, delayed by calms, pursuing a circuit- 
ous route, and now driven in fuiy before the raging tempest on the 
high and giddy waves. 

The awful voice of the storm howls through the rigging; the labor- 
ing masts seem straining from their base ; the dismal sound of the 
pump is heard; the ship leaps, as it were, madly from billow to billow ; 
the ocean breaks and settles with engulfing floods over the floating 
deck, and beats with deadening might against the staggered vessel. 
I see them, escaped from these perils, pursuing their all but desperate 
undertaking ; and landed at last, after a five months' passage, on the 
ice-clad rocks of Plymouth, weak and weary from the voyage, poorly 
armed, scantily provisioned, depending on the charity of their ship- 
master for a draught of beer on board, drinking nothing but water on 
shore, without shelter, without means, surrounded by hostile tribes. 
Shut now the volume of history and tell me, on any principle of hu- 
man probability, what shall be the fate of this handful of adventurers. 
Tell me, man of military science, in how many months were they all 



102 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

swept off by the thirty savage tribes enumerated within the early lim- 
its of New England ? Tell me, politician, how long did this shadow of 
a colony, on which your conventions and ti'eaties had not smiled, lan- 
guish on the distant coast? Student of history, compare for me the 
baffled projects, the deserted settlements, the abandoned adventures 
of other times, and find the parallel of this. 

Was it the winter's storm, beating upon the houseless heads of 
women and children, was it hard labor and spare meals, was it disease, 
was it the tomahawk, was it the deep malady of a blighted hope, a 
ruined enterprise, and a broken heart, aching in its last moments at 
the recollection of the loved and left beyond the sea; was it some, or 
all of these united, that hurried this forsaken company to their melan- 
choly fate ? 

And is it possible that neither of these causes, that not all combined, 
were able to blast this bud of hope ? Is it possible that from a begin- 
ning so feeble, so frail, so worthy, not so much of admiration as of 
pity, there has gone forth a progress so steady, a growth so wonderful, 
a reality so important, a promise yet to be fulfilled, so glorious ? " 

These utterances of the gifted Everett force upon the 
mind a true conception of the men and women who worked 
upon the very foundations in our temple of civil liberty. V/e 
who now dwell amid the beauties of the completed structure, 
should deal kindly with those who thus worked and suffered 
for our happiness and safety. Nor were these men blind to 
the future before them, and now our rich possession. They 
had broad views, high purposes, and sublime conceptions. But 
few American statesmen have studied our early history and 
the work of the Pilgrims with more thoroughness than did 
Daniel Webster. In an address, on the first settlement of 
New England, he causes our fathers when they landed upon 
the Plymouth Rock to use the following language : " If God 
prosper us, we shall here begin a work which shall last for 
ages ; we shall plant here a new society, in the principles of 
the fullest liberty and the purest religion ; we shall subdue 
this wilderness which is before us ; we shall fill this region of 
the great continent, which stretches almost from pole to pole, 
with civilization and Christianity ; the temples of the true 
God shall rise where now ascends the smoke of idolatrous 
sacrifice; fields and gardens, the flowers of summer and the 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



103 



waving and golden harvest of autumn, sliall spread over a 
thousand valleys, never yet, since the creation, reclaimed to 
the use of civilized man. We shall whiten this coast with 
the canvas of a prosperous commerce ; we shall stud the 
long and winding shore with a hundred cities. That which 
we sow in weakness shall be raised in strength. From our 
sincere, but houseless worship, there shall spring splendid 
temples to God's goodness ; from the simplicity of our social 
union, there shall arise wise and politic institutions of govern- 
ment, full of the liberty which we ourselves bring and 
breathe ; from our zeal for learning, institutions shall spring 
which shall scatter the light of knowledge throughout the 
land, and, in time, paying back where they have borrowed, 
shall contribute their part to the great aggregate of human 
knowledge ; and our descendants, through all generations, 
shall look back to this spot and to this hour, with unabated 
affection and regard." 

Let us again return. The war of the Revolution is over. 
Peace has been declared. The colonies are free and the 
great woik of national development begins. The career of 
the United States commences. The constitution is formed 
and adopted. The immortal Washmgton is made the first 
President. Now settlements begin anew. Commerce, agri- 
culture, and manufactures must be revived and augmented. 
The government was poor yet rich in hope and purpose. 
The settlements in Buxton now increased, and improvements 
met the eye on every side. The forests were felled, the land 
cleared and houses erected. We can easily see how im- 
mense the labor imposed upon the settlers. Mills must be 
erected, bridges built, and roads constructed. At no time in 
the history of the town has there been a wonderfully rapid 
growth, but rather, a steady and continuous prosperity. 
Churches and school-houses were early built. The culture 
of the heart and the mind was a controlling principle with 
our fathers. In this they rightly judged. When I mention 



104 BIJXTON CENTENNIAL, 

the word churches, my memory recalls the name of Rev. 
Paul Coffin, whose sainted ashes rest in yonder graveyard ; 
and whose spirit, I doubt not, hovers over us at this hour. 
I also see again the form of Rev. Abner Flanders and Rev. 
Levi Loring, who labored long and faithfully for the spiritual 
good of more than one generation. Sacred be their mem- 
ories. Who does not to-day with pleasure remember the 
venerable father Clay with his hoary locks ? He lives among 
the " countless millions " of whom he always spoke in the 
closing words of his prayers. The descendants of these men 
are among us to-day. I see them before me. Our historian 
is one of the number. Among the school-masters, I can 
mention, Moody, Morrisey, Sawyer, Smith, and Brown. Of 
Moody and Morrisey my father often spoke. Of Smith and 
Brown many present could speak. Some of us could speak 
feelingly^ if it were proper to do so, seeing they have long 
since " slept the sleep that knows no waking." 

The war of 1812 brought to the settlers of Buxton many 
hardships and privations. Their patriotism, however, was 
equal to the occasion. It enabled them to endure their pri- 
vations without a murmur. The women of that day were 
noble women. They gloried in their self-denials. They 
cheerfully gave up husbands, sons, and lovers. I regret most 
profoundly that I am not able to read the Buxton Roll of 
Honor. It is in history, but not now in my possession. 

When the war of 1812 had closed, there began the steady 
and regular prosperity which it has been the good fortune of 
Buxton to enjoy till this day. The celebration of this day, 
the first centennial, in 1872, will bring to mind the many 
changes which one hundred years have wrought. In 1772, 
where we now behold well-cleared and fruitful farms, was the 
wilderness. Then, the log cabin and now the well-made and 
furnished house. Then, the spotted tree for the course of 
travel ; now, the well-built road. Then, the swollen stream 
to ford; now, the safely constructed bridge. Then, an ab- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



105 



sence of the comforts and luxuries of life ; now, all these in 
abundance. Privations then, but freedom now. Thanks be 
to God, our goodly town has done well. "When the second 
centennial occurs, let me now predict still greater prosperity 
and improvement. Other industries will spring up, other 
demands will be made and met. These will be followed by 
the fruits of well-directed effort. None of us will be here, 
yet let us hope that those who shall come, will be able, as we 
are, to thank God, and do good work for those who shall fol- 
low them. 

Buxton to-day has here her sons and daughters. Some 
have returned from distant homes and many are still resi- 
dents here. Many more have gone forever to the land of 
spirits. This town has sent good men to the great cities of 
the Union, — to Portland, to Boston, to New York, and to 
Chicago. They are there grappling with business or the re- 
sponsibilities of professional life. Many of them are pros- 
perous and hold honorable rank with the sons of other towns 
and cities. She has sent many sons to the army and navy, 
where they have nobly acted their part. One trod the deck 
of the gallant Kearsarge. Buxton has sent many a pioneer 
into the great West. They have there had their part in de- 
veloping and molding the capabilities and institutions which, 
in the generations to come, shall flourish in the great valley 
of the Mississippi. 

These all, whether in the city or the country ; whether in 
near or distant States, will ever and anon send their minds 
back to this their dear old native town. They will often 
sigh for a sight of her lands, her woods, and her streams. 
They will, in mind, wander amid her burial grounds and find 
the places where sacred ashes rest. For my part, however 
much I love the pure atmosphere, the magnificent prairies, 
and the beautiful skies of my adopted State, never, never, 
can I forget the old town where first I saw the light of day 
and where now my fathers sleep. 



106 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



Buxton has sent not a few of her sons to the colleges of 
New England. The honors of Yale, of Harvard, of Dart- 
mouth, of Bowdoin, and of Waterville have been granted 
them. Our historian to-day went from the classic shades of 
Bowdoin to the great West, and I rejoice that liis prosperity 
there was so much that he can now dwell and have otium 
cum dignitate under the shadows of old Harvard. 

Our poet was justly a sharer in the peculiar honors of 
Yale. We are right glad that he, a son of Buxton, has so 
honorable a place on the editorial staff of New England's 
favorite public journal. 

And now my friends, both old and young, what shall be 
my parting word ? Amid the genial festivities of this glad 
hour, how shall I bid you adieu ? I did not dare make a 
special preparation for this address. I preferred to let the 
occasion teach me what to say ; to draw inspiration from the 
happy faces that should surround me, and thus keep my mind 
free from the constraints of a written page. You must there- 
fore pardon the defects of such a mode of speaking. Let me 
say finally that we are bound, under heaven, to protect and 
preserve all the liberties and privileges which we now enjoy. 

Our fathers bequeath them to us. They come from the 
free government they fought to secure. How shall we do 
this? 

We may do it by cultivating a broad and generous patriot- 
ism, — a patriotism which shall reach deep down into the 
sources of our national character ; which shall drink its in- 
spiration from those pages in American history which true 
heroism has made radiant with the light of an unfading glory. 
A patriotism thus sought and fed lifts us fiir, far above mere 
partyism. Partyism is narrow and often selfish. Patriotism 
is broad and always unselfish. We should study our govern- 
ment, and in its mechanism discover the strength of its foun- 
dation, and the beauty of its superstructure. Thus shall we 
learn to love our country, love it as no Greek or Roman 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. lOT 

could love his ; and so loving, be ready to honor and defend. 
This admiration, this ardent attachment, should be cherished 
by the old and taught to the young. 

We are glad, then, to see here to-day the youth of the 
tOAvn, that they may look upon the nation's flag, hear the 
booming cannon, listen to the stirring and patriotic music of 
the band and the choir, as they send forth the inspiring notes 
of " Star Spangled Banner '' and " America." These notes 
are to-day our property, our legacy. May they be such to 
our children and our children's children, down, down, to the 
remotest time. Let them strike the ear every Fourth of 
July and every month of every year. 

Let its institutions, its free education, its christian religion, 
be cherished and sustained with patriotic devotion, and God 
will continue them to us and to ours for all the generations 
to come. 

Then in 1972, when the second centennial shall be cele- 
brated, though we shall all be gathered to our fathers, and 
the sons and daughters of Buxton come to this spot amid great 
rejoicing, they will leave for the day their houses furnished 
and surrounded as we cannot now imagine, secured to them 
by all the devices of a good society and government. An- 
other cannon will stir our slumbering dust. Other voices 
than ours shall be heard in speech and song. Other strong 
hands shall erect the tent and spread the canvas. Other fair 
hands shall load the festal tables. 

Be this so, and may the participants in that day, as in this, 
thank God and feel that they are the inheritors of the most 
goodly land God ever carved out for mortals. 



At the close of tlie oration, the choirs and band gave, " O 
coine all ye faithful." 

The President then introduced the Poet of the occasion, as 
follows : 

I now introduce to you a bright and shining star in the 
political and editorial circle of the Old Bay State ; who cele- 
brates with us the birthday of his native town : Charles G. 
Came, of Boston. 



POEM. 



Like one who, reverent but glad, in spite of weary days, 

As through his boyhood's home with returning foot he strays, 

Explores each wonted room with an eager, moistening eye, 

Greets each familiar thing with a smile or a sigh, — 

Surveys the towering clock that has ticked away a race. 

The glass that shows a careworn and not a childish face, 

And o'er the mantelpiece, almost as good as new. 

The rigid little. profiles of Ethiopian hue, — 

Sees everything delighted, yet is none the less aAvare 

That the best things of all are the hearts still beating there; 

So come we here to-day, so trace the century's record down, 

Ke-clothe the cherished past of our still more cherished town. 

This is, indeed, our home, whatever else we love to call 
By that endearing name; and brethren are we all, 
Though not a genealogist with all his lore could trace 
Any other tie among us, save that of Adam's race. 
Brethren are we all, though we never met before. 
And with the coming sundown shall part forevermore. 
Though the veteran is here, with his store of youtliful scenes, 
And the little child that wonders what all this talking means ; 
Though we hail from busy marts and the prairies of the West, 
From shop and mill and farm and gray old Ocean's crest, — 
From even "the Hub of the Universe " gladly hasting down. 
And iqo from the halls of Congress to celebrate the town, — 
A family re-united on this festal day we come 
To share the memories clustering about our common home. 

Who cares about the corner where our eyes first saw the light? 
Whether near this Lower Corner, the settlers' earliest site, 
Or in the other higher ones, if any such there be. 
From the straight line of Gorham to the slopes of Shadigee ; 
What matters if our bare feet, as brown as garden toads, 



110 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

First trudged along the Eight Eod or down the Beach Plain roads; 

Or we practiced at the Bar, taking frolic for a fee, 

Or gazed on Bonny Eagle as a mighty inland sea; 

If first we SAvam the Saco, or slid down Dearborn's hill; 

Whose orchards we got into, or where we went to mill; 

Or which the school-house was whose birches made us wince, 

Whose lessons made us wiser than we ever have been since ; 

How oft we went to muster, or hurried trembling by 

The old brick powder-house that might blow us to the sky; 

Or " snatched a fearful joy" in warily treading where 

Tradition grimly whispered John Palmer shot the bear! 

Vain, ah, vain the task to unloose the swelling flow 
Of memories that bear us back to the long time ago, — 
That bear us up, indeed, in so manj^ a wearied hour, 
And a blissful haven give when the clouds of trouble lower ; 
But who shall count them o'er V Too short this summer's day 
To mark the thronging visitants, the haunting scenes that play 
In the coldest heart among us. Neither are we here 
To celebrate ourselves, but this proud centennial yeai\ 

This is our Eathers' home, — thank God! our Mothers,' too. 

Who both woman's rights and woman's duties knew. 

To them we give our homage first, for grave history has a knack 

Of glorifying mankind and keeping woman back, — 

As if the car of progress its " better half " did lack. 

Or, wheel-barrow like, left only a single track. 

Not so the honored Mothers of Buxton shall we treat, 

Who kept up their own end and made both ends meet. 

By them the somber web of the settler's varied lot 

With the golden threads of love was brightly overshot; 

Ne'er pausing in well-doing, till they took their final rest. 

Let us, their grateful children, rise up and call them blest. 

But all then worked together in the good old early days. 

Nor shall they sundered be e'en for purposes of praise; 

A hardy, stalwart race, frank, open-handed, free, 

A little quick in temper, quicker yet in charity; 

At raisings or at funerals, strong arm and tender heart 

Acted all the neighbor's, revealed the Christian's part. 

They never swore at all, unless exceeding wroth, 

They gave full measure, and they wore full cloth. 

No time had they for sentiment, kept clear of doleful dumps. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAJL, 111 

For squatting where they might, they had to " stir their stumps." 
Their spelling might be faulty, but of rights they knew the worth, 
And they taught King George a lesson still sounding o'er the earth. 

Of such the wortliies were, whose names have often stirred 
Our souls as with the charm of some treasured household word; 
The Hancocks and the Adamses, as true as those more famed. 
The Goodwins and the Eldens and the Merritts, rightly named; 
The Lanes that had no turning, the Roundses, always " square," 
The Emerys and the Wentworths, the Smiths, too, everywhere; 
With Martin and with Marshall, McDonald known as Mack, 
They also had their Greenleafs, and of Berrys felt no lack. 
With the Bradburys and the Hobsons to build and run their mills, 
They were strengthened with, we trust, the everlasting Hills. 
With kindred bands of White, Gray, and Dunn Brown cords. 
They beat old Mother England with many a house of Lords. 
As for the race of Eaton, do you think their race is run? 
Just look at "Uncle Tut," wide awake at ninety-one! 

And yet the old town of vain-glory showed no trace, — 

8he long kept a Coffin in her most conspicuous place ; 

And still she heeds the injunction of the apostolic pen. 

To let her Moderation be knovi-n unto all men. 

Not all things did our fathers, the simple truth to tell; 

The Woodmans, acting history, left sons to v/rite it well. 

To cut and stitch the Hansons e'er showed a ready hand. 

But then they clothed not their thousands over all the land. 

The Merrills were not Governors then, except of team and plow; 

The Dunnells were Selectmen, not Congressmen, as now. 

'Twas a day, indeed, of small things, outside the heroic stock, 
A day of plain and simple things the sons will never mock. 
Our kickshaws of cookery had given them the cramp 
As they took their pork and porridge or bowl of wholesome samp. 
The shuttle and the spinning-wheel, — no living girl e'er sees, — 
Made music sweet as any thumped out of ivory keys. 
In the women's social calls early hours were no crime. 
They took their knitting with them and got home by milking time. 
Straight as arrows were tliej^, too, with no bottle-spider curves, 
And they passed away their lives in sheer ignorance of nerves. 
No dandies were there then, though many a goodly romp. 
And the sprucest thing in town was old Spruce Swamp. 



112 BUXTON CENTENNIAL 

This mighty age of wonders how far they were behind! 

With their mowers and their reapers of the two-legged kind ; 

No daily press in motion to keep the people bright, 

No machine to do their sewing, not even a match to light. 

A steamboat on the river! they would have shouted until hoarse; 

And what staring and what rearing at sight of the iron horse! 

But had they seen these wires flashing all the world's news, 

Verily, they would have thought the Evil One was loose! 

And yet they waxed and flourished, nor thought themselves so 

slow, — 
The young ones " rayther fast," indeed, 

A Hundred Years Ago. 

I. 

With the town buried down 'neath a long winter's snows, 
And what scores of cold Fridays there's nobody knows. 
Hard, tough old times were those, 

A hundred years ago. 

II. 

With quiltings and with huskings and glorious training day. 
And always Marm Garland's so handy in the way. 
High, jolly old times had they, 

A hundred years ago. 

III. 

With baking and washing, tending crops, sowing seed. 
And kind words and high words, — life hardly up to creed, — 
Very much like these, indeed. 

The hundred years ago. 

IV. 

As down at Old Orchard they took their annual dip, 
And perchance felt the chill their vitals give a grip. 
Reluctantly they had a little flip, 

A hundred years ago. 

V. 

No Presidents were then; but ministers and kings, 
Instead of Grant and Greeley, took politicians' flings; 
Had tliey but other names for things, 

A hundred years ago! 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 113 

VI. 

When o'er the rising troubles so earnestly they talked, 
As into Boston harbor the tea-chests were knocked, 
'Twas the cradle of a nation that they rocked, 
A hundred years ago! 

VII. 

May we our duties face as worthily to-day. 
That our children, a century hence, shall say: 
" Ah, queer old dear ones were they, 

A hundred years ago. 

And can it be, my brethren, that while our native town 

Is steadily going up, the breed is running down? 

'Tis not for us to say, — to that solemn hour let us point, 

"When with treason's mad assault the times were out of joint; 

When tramp of mustering squadrons to the centre shook the land, 

And this Union of our love seemed but a rope of sand. 

Oh, how the shots struck these peaceful homes among! 

What hearts are bleeding yet by those awful memories wrung! 

But the Boys, — the Boys of old Buxton, — how stood they in the 

fight? 
As firm, as grand, I ween, as their Fathei's on Bunker's height. 
Prompt wheeling into line with the mighty loyal host, 
They fought their battle through, nor stopped to count the cost. 
The fainting march, deadly trench, or whizzing shell, 
Pestiferous breath of hospital, or rebel prison's hell, 
Wounds, disease, or death, — they met them all to save 
An empire without a king, a land without a slave. 

So shall it ever be; though the blessed Flag advance, 

Till, welcomed o'er the Continent, its stars in glory glance. 

Our little town, a speck on the nation's boundless plains, 

With her single drop of blood coursing through the nation's veins, 

As vital as any other, as near the central heart, 

With the Union e'er shall stand, with that alone depart. 

So while the sun smiles upon her, or Saco rolls its waters down, 

Through all, all the coming ages, GoD bless the Town! 



TOASTS, 



At the close of the Poem, the President announced the 
collation and invited all to participate. A grand rush for the 
tables now seemed to take the place of the order of the day. 
After the tables were all filled and quiet restored, Rev. S. H. 
Merrill of Portland pronounced an Invocation. 

O Lord, Thou art God alone. Thou hast been the dwelling place of 
Thy people in all generations. We are here to give Thee thanks for 
the favor Thou didst show our fathers, who, amidst hardships and 
perils, entered the wilderness which then overspread this now thriv- 
ing and beautiful town. "We are here to acknowledge Thy hand in all 
its past history. We thank Thee that under these pleasant skies, amid 
this charming scenery, so many of us, natives of this town, are per- 
mitted to greet each other, and renew the acquaintances of childhood 
and youth, and through the magic power of association, to be young 
again to-day. Let us now enjoy with devout hearts these gifts of Thy 
hand ; and let our future lives be wiser and better for the privilege of 
this occasion ; for the Redeemev's sake. 

After dinner the exercises were resumed. " Keller's 
American Hymn " was finely sung by Misses Alice and 
Anna Leavitt, of Buxton. Then followed a voluntary, 
" America," by the Choral Union and the Dover band. Dr. 
A. K. P. Meserve, of Buxton, acting Toast Master of the 
occasion, then called up several gentlemen to respond to 
toasts which were in sentiment as follows : 

The Town of Buxton: Her territory originally bestowed for a 
laudable purpose, she must have caught the infection of generosity 
and proved a cherishing mother; since her children leave her with re- 
gret, and re-visit with pleasure their former home. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 115 

Responded to by Charles E. Jose, of Portland, as follows : 
Mr. President : There is an expression in the sentiment 
just read, that contains an important truth, and a hint at the 
broad and liberal policy adopted at the birth-day of our in- 
stitutions, in the distribution of the public domain, no where 
more manifest in its results than in this good old town, nor 
better illustrated than in this immense assemblage of Buxton- 
born , who have gathered here with the rare privilege of re- 
union, to exchange congratulations at this summit point in 
the cycle of a century. Whatever diversity of feeling or 
condition may attach to us as individuals, we are here to- 
day in the unity of thousands in one, to show our reverence 
for this our common inheritance. Aside from family ties 
and birthright attachment, we feel a general interest in the 
character of the soil and the general features of the town, 
which, I believe, enjoys the reputation of no waste land, bar- 
ren plains, nor malarial swamps, with their indigenous pro- 
ducts, Hoop-Poles and Shrub Oaks. 

Our ancestors were of the good old Puritan stock ; and 
the standard of that has been well maintained ; a resident 
population of recognized intelligence, and a fugitive family, 
scattered on all the highways of the country ; honoring them- 
selves and the place of their birtli by an adherence to the 
same principles. And I congratulate myself on this oppor- 
tunity of coming back and mingling in fraternal union of 
hearts and hands, and, from this grand out-look, to contem- 
plate for the hour the memories of the past and the bright 
promises of the future of this, our own, our native town. 

The Pkesident of the United States. 

Response by Hon. Joseph Hobson, of Saco, as follows : 

Mr. President — Ladies and Crentlemen: My language is 

inadequate to illustrate the character or the merits of the 

President of the United States. His success in crushing the 

late rebellion, his direction of our gallant army, by God's 



116 BirXTON CENTENNIAIi. 

will, has preserved this flag that floats so gracefully over our 
heads, — not a star blotted out, not a stain of national dis- 
honor upon its folds. His fresher laurels in civil administra- 
tion are equally well-earned, government administered with 
promptness and efficiency, our foreign relations harmonious, 
our public debt diminishing, our national character more re- 
spected ; he is a shining star in the cabinet as well as in the 
field. That trait in his character, his marvellous self-control 
when assailed by the calumnies of political foes, will stamp 
him as one of the philosophers or stoics of the present age. 
Should his future career be as successful as the past has been, 
he will be ranked among the greatest generals and the purest 
statesmen. 

The Sons and Daughters of Bdxton who reside elsewhere: 
Their characters universally above reproach, we are proud to own 
them as our brethren, and rejoice to meet them again in our midst. 

Responded to by Lory B. Foss, of Boston, Mass., as fol- 
lows : 

Mr. President: I am here to thank you in behalf of the 
Sons and Daughters of Buxton who reside elsewhere ; for 
your high appreciation of their character, for your cordial 
invitation, to join you on this glorious occasion, and for your 
generous provision for their entertainment. It proves that 
family ties are not broken ; that our love of home, always 
strong and increasing with our years, finds its full comple- 
ment in your esteem ; how deeply we thank you for this, 
words can but feebly express. An invitation fi'om the Czar 
of Russia to visit his court, and partake of his hospitality, 
could generate no such thrill as this, our mother's call, 
" Come Home." 

The fathers and mothers of Buxton have always, as now, 
welcomed us with outstretched arms ; always, as now, re- 
ceived us with unstinted hospitality, thus proving their con- 
tinued interest in the welfare of their sons and daughters. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 117 

If more than this be needed, let me point you to the schools 
they have always provided, affording to every child within 
her borders an education sufficient for all the ordinary busi- 
ness purposes of life. Measured by their incomes our fathers 
have made sacrifices of which no modern patriot can boast. 
If the whole country had contributed the same per centage 
and the same effort, the whole land, from Passamaquoddy 
Bay to Sitka, would have been one vast village of school- 
houses. 

It has been my fortune to spend some fifteen years of my 
later fife on the road between Maine and Missouri, to visit 
and compare many communities, many families, many men, 
and, waiving all personal claims, I dare to say that no com- 
munity of its size in the United States, has sent from home 
a more industrious, more honest, more useful, or a better 
people, than the town of Buxton. A Buxton man is always 
industrious. It is his peculiar inheritance. At his first start 
in life, wherever he may be, his first object is to make for 
himself a home and never cease improving it. 

Find him where you may, in the logging-swamp, in the 
city, on 'change, on the prairies, in the gold mines, on the fron- 
tier, in the pulpit, in the halis of the Legislature, or fighting 
his country's battles in the wilderness, his characteristics are 
traceable in his indomitable courage, in his persistency, in 
his love of justice aud equal rights, and in his inflexible de- 
termination to come out ahead, at any and all honorable cost. 
The dearest spot on earth to a Buxton man, is Buxton ; he 
honors the land of his birth ; to him it is always home ; no 
other land for him has such a place, no other language such 
a word. 

But, Mr. Chairman, whatever of honor, whatever of good, 
of noble purpose is accorded to the sons, must also be con- 
ceded to the daughters. 'Tis true, also, here as elsewhere, 
that the mothers and daughters mould the characters of the 
sons and brothers. This is, indeed, woman's greatest work, 



118 BUXTON CENTENNIAIi. 

and in It there is glory without stint. Mr. Chairman, I claim 
that the sons and daughters of Buxton, wherever residing, 
deserve the eulogy you so gracefully accord them ; it is, in- 
deed, high praise, but the author is greater than his works, 
the maker of more account than what he makes ; so must 
our praises be written in a higher key to justly commend our 
fathers and mothers. 

We are glad to be home again, to breathe once more the 
pure air that invigorated our childhood, to grasp again the 
hands that in bo3^hood days encouragingly patted our heads, 
to look once more into the faces of the men and women who 
were middle aged when we were young, a little wrinkled but 
scarcely older than thirty years ago. Is it not true, Mr. 
Chairman, that those we love never grow old ? 

We are glad to meet each other ; it is a source of joy any- 
where, but most so here, where every field and grove and 
path has borne the impress of our own little bare feet. Every 
step in life leaves a track. Would that all were as innocent 
as those of our infancy. 

I must be pardoned, Mr. Chairman, for my deviation to 
this theme, as my thoughts revert to the pastimes, the sing- 
ing-schools, the huskings, the quiltings, the innumerable oc- 
casions that brought us together in the sweetheart days. To 
act the cavalier on a long journey to her home, and return 
with that elastic step wdiich made one feel, in the language 
of Alexander Smith, " that he walked on thrones." Tliese 
are golden links in memory's chain that bind us to our boy- 
hood home. 

Such, Mr. Chairman, are the pleasant thoughts woven in- 
to my memory of Buxton and its people. I love the old 
town as I do my father. Its sods cover my mother, my 
brother, and my child. Its name is a bond of union be- 
tween me and her children wherever dispersed. 

In conclusion, let me commend this spot as most appropri- 
ately chosen for this gathering, for yonder in peaceful slum- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 



119 



ber are the hundreds who have passed before us ; we have 
come to them as well as to you, and may we not conceive 
their spirits hovering near, to rejoice with us that old Buxton 
has so well achieved her hundredth birthday ? 

The Labies: First and foremost in every good cause and work, 
while they adorn our homes, mould our characters, soothe our sorrows, 
and exalt all our pleasures, may no privileges that will increase their 
happiness ever be denied them. 

Response by Hon. J. E. Butler, of Biddeford, as follows : 
The gentleman who has responded to "The Sons and 
Daughters of Buxton," is too gallant and too just, not to 
claim with me, for the wives, mothers, and daughters over 
all the land the same virtues and graces which we readily 
accord to those for whom he has spoken. You are right, Mr. 
Chairman, to include the ladies in your choicest sentiment ; 
there can be no worthy tyoe of civilization, where woman is 
not honored and beloved, cherished and respected as the 
Priestess adorning the Inner Temple, where men worship 
the better angels of their nature. It is not ours to deny 
them their right or any of the privileges they claim. They 
know them and, knowing, deserve them ; and their prov- 
ince and their sphere of usefulness or of influence, be as- 
sured, Mr. Chairman, they fully appreciate now, and their 
natural acuteness will be their best compass, their natural 
ambition, their best pilot. 

All the dear creatures may not be angels, but the places 
of those who fail are not supplied by men ; nor will they be 
until we get to that heaven, whither all our hopes are tend- 
inty. And in this world, where we should all learn to hear 
and/orJear, let us realize that no one alone can quarrel, and 
that if the ladies sometimes find fault with us, or wound our 
sensibilities, very often we shall find that the blame is mu- 
tual. 



120 BUXTON CENTENNIAL 

The Farmeks : May they truly appreciate their calling, and remem- 
ber that " He who causes two blades of grass to grow where only one 
grew before is a public benefactor." 

Response by Mark P. Emery, of Portland, as follows : 

Mr. Chairman^ Ladies and Gentlemen: However much 
may be said, hinting at agricultural reform, to develop the 
highest culture consistent with the wealth of the soil, we 
cannot safely supplant manual labor with theories or fancies. 
The maxim of our great Benjamin Franklin is still true ; 
" He tliat by the plow would thrive, himself must either 
hold or drive." 

Practical farming has proved the most successfial, as a 
natural result follows a natural cause. Not that men get 
rich in a day, or tliat great wealth is sure to follow the labor 
of even a lifetime ; but tliat, to no other pui'suit more than 
that of the Farmer, is the assurance given, that " he that 
soweth shall also reap, and in kind with that which he has 
sown," and if his drafts upon the great warehouse are made 
in a reasonable manner, and in business time, they will al- 
ways be honored. I offer you this sentiment to close. 

Farmers and farmers' wives of Buxton : The pillars and 
support of the town, as your bountifully spread tables abun- 
dantly prove. 

Our Venerable Grandmothers : Whose crocheting was with the 
flax comb and whose piano was the spinning-wheel, always furnishing 
good homespun linen and checked aprons. May we, their descendaats, 
always find 

Our shirts as well starched, 

Our stockings as well mended, 
Our goose as well cooked, and 
Our babies as well tended. 

Responded to by Hon. Joshua Dunn, of Portland. 

Mr. President : This is my native town, and if ever I felt 
proud of old Buxton it is to-day, and now bordering on my 
fourscore years, I have been anxious to live to see this day. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 121 

fearing that something might prevent my being present at 
the next centennial. I wanted to be here, to shake the 
friendly hand of old playmates and schoolmates if I could 
find them. 

I will not say what the boys used to speak from the Colum- 
bian Orator. 

"Or Where's the town go far or near 
That does not find a rival here ?" 

For I believe that old Buxton has no rival in this country 
for honest men and bonnie lasses, I thank the ladies for 
their presence here to-day ; I hope to catch inspiration from 
their cheerful faces that I may say something clever if not 
high-flown. But I am requested to reply to a sentiment for 
our venerable grandmothers, and cheerfully will I do so. I 
had one myself and a good one too, especially on the mater- 
nal side, who took care of me four years after my mother's 
death, at the old farm house. There, indeed, the music was 
the spinning wheel and the flying shuttle in the household 
loom. And when, in my fourteenth year, I left my grand- 
mother and started on foot to Portland to learn the saddler's 
trade in a homespun suit and felt hat, and received her part- 
ing blessing, I felt, sir, more than all your sentiment can ex- 
press. 

I had little or no learning, for I was sent to school only on 
rainy days, my ancestors fearing that too much application 
might cramp my genius. I had no taste for mathematics, but 
it was acknowledged by all that my talents would be devel- 
oped in military tactics. I had heard of battles and longed 
to follow Gen. Scott or some other hero to the tented field ; 
and when the war of 1812 broke out, though a stripling of only 
eighteen years, I felt full of patriotism and enlisted for eight 
dollars a month and no bounty. The young blood frolicked 
through my veins when I thought of scaling the walls of 
Quebec or treading the streets of Montreal, and it might 
have been so had it not been for those plaguey Indians in the 



122 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. ^ 

woods of " Sliadagee " (Chateaugay). I served through the 
war, was at the battle of Plattsburg, and was honorably dis- 
charged when peace was declared. And now, sixty years 
later, I am still grateful to our government for the eight dol- 
lars a month which I am receiving, though rather small pay 
to go out and stop bullets for. 

And now, fellow-townsmen, men and women of Buxton, I 
will offer the following sentiment. 

Our native town, may her motto be in the future as in the 
past, morality, frugality, industry, and honesty. 

Thk Sons of Buxton in the Late War : Ever prompt to do their 
duty, may the time never again come vehen a like sacrifice shall be re- 
quired, may prosperity and peace continue henceforth. 

Responded to by Capt. Joseph F. Warren, of Buxton. 

3Ir. Chairman^ Ladies^ and Grentlemen : Though not a 
native of Buxton, yet I am proud to be her citizen, and es- 
pecially am I proud to-day to say a word in behalf of so 
many of her sons, who, in response to their country's call 
shrank not from the strife. They saw our great Republic 
struggling for existence, the old flag fluttering in danger, and, 
with determination and zeal, they said, " That flag must float 
over all this land," and girding on their armor, imperiled all 
and marched to final victory. But alas ! we would not forget 
the sacrifice. With sad hearts do we call to mind our com- 
rades who fell out on that long and weary march, but who 
served their country all the more, because they gave their 
all. Several years have passed since we laid aside our mili- 
tary and returned to civil life ; yet within our breasts burns 
the same patriotic flame, and should this flag again be as- 
sailed by any foe, foreign or domestic, with the same prompt- 
ness would we seize the musket and haversack and double- 
quick to the rescue. 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 123 

The Day We Celebrate : Filled with pleasure and rejoicing, yet 
hallowed by memories of the past, and of those who walk no more 
with us ; may we all so live and act, that when another hundred years 
shall have passed, and another generation shall fill our places, they 
may remember us with the same feelings of love and veneration which 
we feel for those who have gone before us. 

Responded to by George W. Woodman, of New York. 

Ladies and Gentlemen : Were I prepared to make a 
fitting response to tlie toast which you have just heard read, 
I should feel restrained from so doing, for two sufficient rea- 
sons. 

First, because your time and patience have been already 
severely taxed by the interesting speeches and proceedings 
which we have all enjoyed to-day ; and 

Second, because the subject of the toast has been treated 
more fully and eifectually by the gentlemen who have pre- 
ceded me, than I can expect to treat it in the brief time 
allotted to me. 

I do not know to whom M-^e are indebted for the origination 
of this celebration, but for myself, and I think for all who are 
here present, I can most heartily say that it has proved an 
event of unalloyed pleasure and satisfaction. 

I have taken occasion to go among this large company to 
seek out relatives and old time acquaintances, and all the 
faces I have looked upon have seemed radiant with joy and 
happiness ; evidently thankful that they were able to be of 
this assembly, and to hear recounted the deeds and sacrifices 
of our progenitors, the first settlers of this town. 

We certainly could do no less, after the lapse of one hun- 
dred years, than to give a day to reminiscences of those who 
came into this then wilderness, to found homes for themselves 
and their children. 

They were men of nerve and energy, willing to undergo 
the hardships necessarily attendant, at that time, upon a 
pioneer life, and with ambition to become independent citi- 



124 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 



zens and owners of the soil. They brought with them civil 
and religious freedom and they were able, willing, and de- 
termined to maintain them. The early founding of the 
church, the organization of the town government, which we 
celebrate to-day, and the part they took in the M-ar of the 
Revolution clearly show this. 

They have now all departed from this stage of existence 
and their forms and faces are known here no more. " Peace 
be to their ashes." May the remembrance of their good 
works continue to live after them and prove a stimulus to us, 
to follow them in whatever of good they attained or aimed at. 

The hundred years which we now look back upon have 
been full, to repletion, of progress for this country and the 
world at large. Millions of men have risen from serfdom to 
freedom ; from civil and religious darkness to the mental, 
moral, and spiritual activity of the present day. 

Within this hundred years science has become the handmaid 
of mankind. She has harnessed new forces to man's chariots 
and ships, and he travels over continents and oceans with 
more ease than the birds of the air. She aids him in the cul- 
tivation of the earth, in the preparation of his food and 
clothing, in the building of his homes and his marts of trade. 
She has chained the electric spark to his uses ; has brought 
the most distant parts of the earth to his fingers' ends, and 
has made " the world a vast whispering gallery." 

Had our forefathers been supplied with the aids and ap- 
pliances which we now possess, their hardships and sufferings 
would have been infinitely less. 

But while reviewing the past it is natural that we should 
turn our thoughts in the opposite direction, and endeavor to 
peer into the mysterious future, to the end of another hun- 
dred years. 

We ask ourselves, what will be the condition of this place 
then ? Who will occupy our places ? What changes of a so- 
cial, political, or intellectual nature will have occurred ? 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 125 

We cannot make answer. Certain it is that no person 
now present can hope to stand here when another centennial 
shall have arrived. Material wealth and prosperity will have 
advanced, and we may believe that great progress will have 
been made in intellectural and moral culture. Our descend- 
ants will, in all likelihood assemble and commemorate the day 
we celebrate, and look back to us and to this day, as we are 
passing in review the century which has gone. 

I cannot conclude without saying, that to us, the sons and 
daughters of Buxton, who have come here after long years 
of absence, this day is one of peculiar pleasure. 

We miss, of course, the loved forms and faces of those 
who once lived in these homes, labored in these fields, and 
assembled in the churches, but we are made happy in meet- 
ing so many of their descendants, renewing old acquaintance- 
ships and in looking again upon the scenes of our childhood. 

Speaking for myself, and I am sure I may add for all the 
non-resident Buxtonians who are now present, I can say we 
feel grateful to you for remembering us and bidding us wel- 
come to this "feast of reason and flow of soul." 

We fully appreciate the labor and anxiety required from, 
and bestowed by you, to make this celebration a success, as 
it certainly is, and so far as our cordial thanks can recom- 
pense you or repay our obligations, they are sincerely yours. 

The Legal Profession: Few in number yet sti-ong in intellect, 
may they in the future as in the past always strive to promote peace 
and good will rather than to encourage litigation. 

Response by Hon. Chas. E. Weld, of Buxton. 

Mr. President^ Ladies and G-entlemen : Though a resident 
of this town for more than a quarter of a century, yet when 
I look around me upon the assembled thousands of the sons 
and daughters of Buxton, many of them returned from distant 
homes to join this great family reunion, with greetings and 
blessings, not only for the venerable mother upon her hun- 



126 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

dredth birthday, but also for one another as brothers and sis- 
ters of the same family, I can but feel some embarrassment 
when I realize that I am only a member of the family by 
adoption, — that I am deprived of the honor and pleasure I 
would enjoy to-day, if I could truthfully boast that, " I too 
am a native of Buxton." 

Gathering confidence, however, from the recollection of 
your past kindness and courtesy, I will proceed as best I can, 
to discharge the duty for which I have been called to appear 
before you. 

But what can I say in response to a sentiment so flatter- 
ing to the legal profession of the past? 

If the lawyers of Buxton and its vicinity have heretofore 
commended themselves to the quiet, law abiding people of 
this good old town by a proper and judicious exercise of their 
professional duties, may we not deem that fact a happy au- 
gury for the future ? 

I am aware that lawyers are popularly supposed to love 
litigation, not perhaps, because they are supposed to love the 
strife and animosities sometimes engendered by it, but be- 
cause they are believed to dei'ive a pecuniary benefit there- 
from. It is not unnatural that such a belief, to some extent 
at least, should prevail. The love of gain, in a greater or 
less degree, is common to all ; and doubtless is implanted in 
our natures for wise purposes, yet like all natural gifts or im- 
pulses, is liable by abuse to become debasing to manhood ; 
and it is not unreasonable to believe that lawyers, though be- 
longing to a profession whose earliest, continued, and latest 
teachings are truth, morality, and virtue, are not exempt 
more than others from the frailties of human nature. Like 
men of other professions and occupations some are good and 
some are bad. There may be some who disregard the high 
moral tenets of their profession, and forgetful of the solemn 
obligations they have assumed, become guilty of unprofess- 
ional conduct. Yet, even such persons are seldom influenced 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 



127 



to promote strife by considerations of the pecuniary benefits 
to accrue to themselves from litigation alone. Every lawyer 
knows that the pecuniary interests of nearly all members of 
the profession, as well as the interests of their clients in a 
large proportion of disagreements which arise, are best pro- 
moted by adjustment without a resort to the decisions of 
courts of law. This then, if no higher motive than the love 
of gain actuates him, should lead him to discourage litigation. 
But the influence which a lawyer can exert over his clients 
is often much overestimated. It is true that his profession 
gives him frequent opportunities to allay sudden irritation, 
by calm and dispassionate council. This is his duty, and if 
he is a man of integrity and honor and faithful to his client's 
interest, this he will endeavor to do. All counsels of peace 
and forbearance are, however, usually lost upon unscrupu- 
lous, headstrong, or avaricious persons, more especially when 
angered by real or fancied wrongs, and such persons are 
those whose names oftenest appear as parties upon the I'ec- 
ords of the courts. With these and others, the thoughtless 
advice of meddlesome neighbors, or of false and pretended 
friends, is often far more potent in stirring up strife, than all 
the arts or suggestions of even an unprincipled lawyer could 
be. 

In leaving this subject, allow me to say, fellow-citizens of 
Buxton, that so long as you remain true to yourselves, so 
long as the same conscientiousness, intelligence, and mutual 
forbearance prevail as have prevailed in the past, you need 
have no fears that the spirit of litigation will not remain in 
abeyance. 

Our past history shows that the legal profession has not 
received great encouragement here. Of the lawyers who 
have entered upon professional business in this town, except 
those now remaining, all have left, after a short experiment, 
for more lucrative business elsewhere. How soon those now 



128 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

here will, in this respect, follow the example of their prede- 
cessors, 

" Let time and chance determine." 

The lawyers remembered to have been in Buxton pre- 
vious to 1846 were Joseph Adams, S. P. S. Thatcher, 
Charles Coffin, Joseph Woodman, William T. Hilliard, Sam- 
uel V. Loring, Edwin W. Wedgwood, and Francis Bacon, 
all of whom, excepting Mr. Loring and Mr. Wedgwood, 
have been located at " Buxton Center " or at the " Lower 
Corner." Among these named were men well remembered 
by people here present, who reflected credit upon their pro- 
fession, and who were valued and highly respected citizens. 
One, the late Francis Bacon, we all remember, and we love 
to cherish his memory. He entered upon the practice of his 
profession here, where he continued until called by his fellow- 
citizens of York county to other and official duties. For sev- 
eral years he held important trusts in this county, and sub- 
sequently returned to professional practice in the town of 
Kittery, in which he continued successfully until his decease, 
a few months since. He, however, always retained a home 
in this town, to which he was peculiarly attached, and to 
which he was accustomed to return for seasons of rest from 
his laborious duties. We remember him as a kind neighbor, 
an earnest friend, a wise counsellor, a good citizen and an 
honest man. His mortal remains lie in the adjoining church- 
yard, a few steps only from the place we now occupy. No 
citizen of Buxton was ever more generally esteemed, or, 
after death more sincerely lamented. In 1866 our esteemed 
fellow-citizen, Joel M. Marshall, entered upon the practice 
of law in this town, where he still remains. We wish him 
success and a long and happy career of usefulness in his pro- 
fession. 

Besides those heretofore named, a part of whom were na- 
tives of the town, a number of the sons of Buxton have been 
educated for, and have entered the legal profession in other 



BUXTON CENTENKIAL. 129 

states of the Union, where they have been highly respected 
and honored. Among these we are proud to claim the His- 
torian, the Poet, and the Orator of this occasion. 

Buxton may truly be said to be honored in her sons. Let 
us then rejoice in the present, and, while we permit ourselves 
with pardonable pride to look upon the past, let us not in- 
dulge in gloomy forebodings for the future. 

Our Church Edifices: Built by a former, and embellished by the 
present generation ; may they never be allowed to decay, but always 
stand as indices of our reverence and prosperity. 

Response by Rev. J. M. Burt, of Buxton, as follows : 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : It can hardly be 
supposed that so young a member of the Buxton family as 
myself (not yet seventeen months old), should know very 
much about the affairs of the family, outside of the nursery, 
the cradle, the milkpan, and the kitchen ; and surely, sir, 
" you'd scarce expect one of my age " (one so beardless) "to 
speak in public on the stage." But then you must remem- 
ber that we live in a fast age of the world. We have flist 
horses, fast steamers, lightning trains, and fast young men ; 
and why should we not have precocious babies, and to this 
perchance our toastmaster had an eye when he requested 
the " new-comer " to make a two minutes' speech, and then 
sent him a wooden subject. Well, a wooden subject is not 
always dry. Some Buxtonites, " Lords " of the forest and 
the saw-mill, have found it quite juicy unless appearances are 
altogether deceitful. 

Nor is the woody part of the religious interest of Buxton 
by any means the least important or the least honorable part. 
Few towns in our Commonwealth in proportion to the num- 
ber of inhabitants, can speak more confidently or exultingly 
of their church edifices than Old Buxton. With a popula- 
tion of less than three thousand, she has nine churches and 
chapels and nearly two thousand sittings. The first settlers 
I 



130 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

did nobly in erecting, at a very early date, a " House for 
God/' It was a rude log house to be sure, but none the less 
honorable to the fathers. This noble stand taken by them 
has been defended, and the work carried forward by children 
and grandchildren. 

The church edifice at the Lower Corner is a substantial 
structure and in good order, having been recently repaired. 
That at Buxton Center has been thoroughly remodelled and 
beautified during the past year, and so completely had the 
work been done, that the Rev. A. K. P. Small, of Portland, 
said he came out there expecting to find a place where a 
little plaster and paint would do good ; but all he had to say 
to the people was "look for yourselves." 

All the other structures are in good condition. That at 
West Buxton being the largest in town, and the first to be 
surmounted by a bell. And all of them, save one, are open 
for religious exercises any Lord's day. 

While, therefore, on this centennial anniversary we may 
exultingly speak of the history of our church edifices and 
rejoice over the present, let us hope and pray that the future 
may be even more creditable than the past or the present ; 
with the following sentiment, JVIr. President I will close : 

Buxton, a visible satellite of the " Star in the East," may 
advancing age increase her brilliancy. 

The Future op Buxton: Shall the sons and daughters, who go out 
from us and return at the end of another hundred years, be as distin- 
guished and respected as those we meet to-day. 

Response by Rev. C. H. Gates, of Somersville, Conn., as 
follows : 

Mr. Cliairman : I come from the land of the Narragansets 
in Connecticut, yet to-day we hear no war-whoop or savage 
yell ; the fathers of Buxton fought and conquered those tribes, 
and from this fact Buxton's township was called Narragan- 
set No. 1. Think of the old township then, and of Buxton 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 131 

to-daj. Think of the sound of the war-whoop, then of the 
church bell. Shall the future of Buxton be as bright as the 
present ? Shall her progress in all that makes a glorious his- 
tory, be as marked as it has been for the century past ? A 
century ! solemn thought ! not one of us then shall gather 
under the shadow of this ancient church to welcome friends 
and former townsmen. Old " Chocorua " and her sister 
mountains will look down upon the coming century as she 
does to-day. The same sun will melt the snows of winter 
and ripen the fruits of autumn then as now. Old ocean will 
dash on yonder beacli on the next centennial day as on this, 
*'But all else how changed." 

The future of Buxton, what shall it be ? Shall patriotism 
and loyalty to country and to God then prevail ? Shall mor- 
ality and Christianity then animate all hearts? Shall the 
Bible and the constitution be upon the same table, or shall 
infidelity and despotism bear sway ? Shall the Sabbath then 
be honored, and the bell call the masses to worship ? I an- 
swer, yes, if under God we do our duty. Public sentiment, 
as well as the habits and character of a people, is formed in 
youth and childhood. We now sow the seed which a cen- 
tury later shall be reaped. Let us sow well. Men die, but 
their principles and the influence they exert live after them. 
Thus, to-day, we feel the influence not only of the "Pilorim 
Fathers " but also of our Buxton Fathers. We can, then in 
part, at least, mould the distant future in the present. Let 
us honor God, love His words, keep His commandments and 
impress them upon our children as our fathers impressed 
them upon us ; then we shall not only mould the men of a 
century hence, but cause them to revere our memory. Let 
us do oui duty, trusting in God, and far more glorious than 
this, shall be the centennial of 1972. 

After the several toasts had been answered, the choirs sung 
*' Auld Lang Syne " in which the audience heartily joined. 



132 BUXTON CENTENNIAL, 

Rev. S. H. Merrill, of Portland, being called upon for some 
remarks replied as follows : 

Mr. President : How much there is here to-day to remind 
us of Auld Lang Syne. Many know full well what is meant 
when I say that we have an excruciating remembrance of 
being called before " Old Master Brown." Whatever may 
have been the merits of the case, we knew what would be 
the result, for the sharp logic of the good man seemed to be 
this, " If the boy does not deserve a flogging now, he has 
deserved it in the past or will in the future, and the infliction 
cannot possibly come amiss ; " so that we were not often called 
up before the sharp, stern old master, but we knew what it 
signified. But why I am called up before this vast assembly, 
without intimation by written resolution or verbal hint as to 
what is expected of me, is not so clear. Then, when the 
evil hour came, we had but to submit with what fortitude we 
could to the stinging application of the birch, and that was 
the end of it. But here, the thing does not end with the 
speech. I never attempted an impromptu speech on a great 
occasion, without omitting much which ought to have been 
said, and saying much which ought to have been left unsaid ; 
and I never was thus unfortunate without exposing myself 
to the infliction of a curtain lecture, provided my wife was 
within ear-shot, and, as she is right here, my words must be 
few. But in regard to our grandfathers, allow me a word 
concerning Capt. Thomas Bradbury, a patriarch of those 
olden times, who commanded the Block House on Saco River 
during Indian war time. He was the father of my great- 
grandmother. In any age, and in any place, he would have 
been a marked man. Strong of limb, strong of mind, strong 
of heart, and strong in. his hold upon the hearts of his fellows, 
a noble specimen of a pioneer woodman and warrior of those 
troublous times. As a specimen of his rough manner of 
speech, this story is told of him. In a discussion which once 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 133 

arose with his wife, she charged him with a want of coixjugal 
affection ; to which he replied, " What you say is not true. 
I love my wife as well as any man that lives, but I don't 
mean that you or anybody else shall ever know it." 

On another occasion, during the Indian troubles his busi- 
ness calling him away from home much of the time, he 
charged his wife to keep closely within doors ; but on his re- 
turn in the evening, learning that she had visited a neighbor, 
he administered a stern rebuke. Not receiving this with 
perfect submission, she finally asserted her " woman's rights," 
declaring that she should do so when she pleased ; that the 
men were often abroad and saw the neighbors, and that the 
women wished to see them as well as they. He replied : 
" That is true, you are all alike. Your great-grandmother, 
Eve, she would see the neighbors, and because there was no- 
body else to see, she went to see the devil." 

But I must close ; and with thanks to the people of this 
good town who have invited us here, to the committee whose 
arrangements have been so perfect, to the ladies whose pro- 
visions for the table have been so bountiful, we must here 
separate. May this review of the past make us all better ; 
and when another centennial shall be celebrated here, may 
we be remembered with the respect and affection with whicli 
we remember those of 1772. 



The President of the day having left the speaker's stand 
during the time the sentiments were being read, and the re- 
plies given, and not being at hand at the close. Dr. Meserve 
announced tlie close of the exercises as follows : 

Fellow Citizens : At the risk of being out of place, in the 
absence of the President, I cannot permit this assemblage to 
separate, without some expression of thanks from the citizens 
of the town and the committee, to those who have so largely 
contributed to the success of this celebration. 

Therefore, in the name of all the present inhabitants of 
Buxton, permit me to say to those who, from neighboring 
cities and towns in our own State, have come to join in the 
exercises and festivities of the day, we thank you ; and es- 
pecially would we extend thanks to the citizens of Saco and 
Biddeford, who have furnished this excellent band ; to the 
Choral Union and Mr. Hobbs, their leader, to the military 
companies for their fine display, to the superintendent of the 
Portland & Rochester Railroad, for courtesies shown, and to 
many from other places who have contributed material means 
to insure success. 

Permit me also, to extend the thanks of this whole au- 
dience to those who have come back to us from other States 
to assist in the literary exercises of the day, whether as 
Chaplain, Historian, Orator, or Poet ; and lastly in behalf of 
the executive committee I would thank all the citizens of this 
town and of Hollis, and especially the ladies who have con- 
tributed so largely to the good cheer of the occasion, and 
congratulate all present upon the interest exhibited, the 



BIJXTON CENTENNIAL, 135 

pleasant memories awakened, and the good order maintained. 
Let us hope that the future of this town shall be as peace- 
ful and happy as the past, and that the memories of those 
who are here to-day shall be preserved, to come up at the 
end of another hundred years, and give to those of our de- 
scendants, who shall gather to celebrate another centennial 
epoch in the history of the town, the same pleasure which 
we have found to-day in recalling the memories of those 
long since gone to their reward. 

The regular exercises of tlie day are now closed. 

This called up Capt. Ira H. Foss, of Saco, a native of 
Buxton, who claimed that the thanks were due from the visi- 
tors on the contrary, to the resident citizens, for the satisfac- 
tory manner in M'hich this event had been carried out by 
them, for the bountiful collation they had furnished, and the 
invitation they had given their brothers and sisters and 
friends, to return and enjoy again the hospitalities of their 
tables. And he felt all the more thankful himself, from the 
fact that some, twenty-five years ago, he left his native town 
with a feeling of comparative indifference whether he ever 
came back to it again or not ; but he was now reanimated 
with a true filial aflFection, and enjoying a fuller sense of 
patriotism tlian ever before. 

This closed the exercises of the day. The choirs now 
sung " Old Hundred," in which the audience heartily joined. 
It was now six o'clock, and an adjournment and separation 
was inevitable. The military companies after giving an ex- 
hibition of their attainment and dexterity in the manual of 
arms, for which they are so justly celebrated, had left the 
ground and marched to the depot at four o'clock. The whole 
company were soon filling the roads in all directions, and the 



136 BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

greatest assemblage tliat was ever witnessed in Buxton had 
dissolved.* 

To the residents of the old town it Avas indeed a bright 
day in their lives ; and the congratulations which they re- 
ceived from their old friends, gave assurance that it was no 
less so to them. Indeed, the spot and the scenery about it, 
had, to many of the returning children, peculiar attractions, 
which this visit had revived and nourished into all the fresh- 
ness and intensity of youth. 

The great throng of people had now withdrawn to their 
homes, the salute from cannon had announced that the day 
was done, when the rain came down in torrents, which 
seemed to have been a long time withheld, a circumstance 
sufficiently convincing to many that Providence had bestowed 
upon the occasion the sunshine of His approval. 



*lt was estimated by good judges that the number of people was from six to eight 
thousand, and the number of horses fifteen hundred ; but notwithstanding the number 
the general good order which prevailed was a topic of common remark. 

Only one accident was known to have occurred, that of Mrs. Chamberlain, the wife 
of Governor Chamberlain, who received an injury to her ankle by the crushing of a 
seat, but we were informed that the injury was not a permanent one. 



The committee and secretary received several letters which 
they intended to have read at the exercises, but were pre- 
vented for want of time. They are pubhshed below. 

From Hon. Samuel Merrill, ex-governor of Iowa, a former 
resident of Buxton. 

Des Moines, Iowa, May 28, 1872, 
J. M. Makshall, Esq., Cor. Secretary, Buxton, Maine. 

Dear Sir : — Tour kind invitation to be present on the 14th of Au- 
gust, is received. I thank you for the invitation, and will accept it, 
and, if possible, be present to enjoy the celebration. It may be im- 
possible to make the trip at that time of the year, but I will leave no 
stone unturned to accomplish it. 

Very ti-uly, Samuel Merrill. 

From the Hon. John P. Hale, ex-senator from N. H., and 
ex-minister to Spain. 

Dover, N. H., August 7, 1872. • •' 

Dear Sir : — Tom* letter of August 1st was duly received, and I assure 
you that it needed no apology. My recollections of Buxton date very 
far back, and the only regret connected %ith these reminiscences is 
the sad thought that there are few, very" few left in your old town, who' 
would remember me, or associate my name with the early scenes you 
mention. 

Your father's name is as familiar to me as my own ; and I was al- 
most a daily visitor at his house. Many pleasant recollections cluster 
around there in roy memory. 

Did my health permit, nothing would aflEbrd me more pleasure than 
to revisit a place so full of agreeable memories as the town of Buxton. 
Especially would it be gratifying for me to be with you on an occasion 
so interesting as your centennial anniversary. But I must forego this 
privilege, and can be with you only in spirit. 

Begging you to accept my grateful thanks for your kind remem- 
brance, and sincere wishes for the continued prosperity of your pleas- 
ant town, I remain Very truly yours, 

John P. Hale. 

To J. M. Marshall, Esq. 



J-OO BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 

A letter from Hon. Isaac Emery of Boston. 

Boston, Aug. 6, 1872. 

J. M. Marshall — Bear Sir: — Your note of July the 18th was re- 
ceived with order of exercises for the 14th inst. I deeply regret that 
continued poor health will prevent me from being witli you on the in- 
teresting occasion referred to. I have most earnestly desired to meet 
60 many of the descendants of the early friends who will assemble on 
the 14th. Those of the Rev. Dr. Coffin, Jacob Bradbury, Deacon 
Leavitt, Mr. Sands and Cutts. Tlie Lanes, the Ushers, Brooks, and 
Kimballs and a host of others whom I knew when only nine years 
old ; now nearly seventy years ago. I feel that no one would exper- 
ience greater pleasure in meeting and exchanging salutations with the 
numerous descendants, than myself. 

As it is, I can only wish you all God speed, and pray that when we 
exchange this world for the untried scenes of the one to come, we may 
all have homes of happiness in our " Father's house of many man- 
sions" forever and forever. God bless you all. 

Tour affectionate friend, 

Isaac Emery. 

Charleston, S. C, July 22, 1872. 
Messrs. J. O. A. Harmon, Moses G. Hill, and others, Committee of 
Centennial Anniversary of Buxton. 

Gentlemen: — Please accept my thanks for your cordial invitation, 
to unite with the citizens of Buxton in their celebration of its centen- 
nial anniversary. 

While I regret that I cannot avail myself of the pleasure of being 
personally present on the 14th of August, I shall join, in spiiit, in this 
social reunion, and recall to mind many scenes of happy childhood 
and youth, awakening fond I'ecoUections which cluster around asso- 
ations with beloved relatives and friends, in the halcyon days of the 
si^ringtime of life. It is on occasions like this, that we feel and realize 
the sentiment of Goldsmith : 

" Where'er I roam, whatever realms I see, 
My heart, untraveled, fondly turns to thee." 

Among the prominent memories of one's childhood, especially one 
of New England parentage, and during the early part of the present 
century, are those connected with the school-house and the meeting- 
house in his native town ; those places where the presence of youth, 
willing or unwilling, was required. 

I seem to see, now, that old school-house in Buxton ; the school 
assembled, the familiar faces of my schoolmates suddenly become de- 



BUXTON CENTENNIAL. 139 

mure, except here and there the twinkle of a roguish eye, all conver- 
sation hushed, all laughter suppressed, for that great autocrat, tha 
mighty dictator, " Master Brown," has come, has entered, and the 
school "begun." 

To say that the venerable Mr. Asa Brown, was a faithful, earnest, 
and learned teacher of a town school, in his reign in the early portion 
of the jjresent century, would feebly describe his powers. He was a 
" Napoleon " in the art and science of teaching and ruling boys. No 
scholars ever learned, before or since, as rapidly as his die ; none so 
well behaved. The little boys were confident in the belief that he had 
eyes in the back, as well as the front of his head, and could detect the 
least mischief going on, even when his back was turned, as he paced 
up and down the school-room in solemn and majestic mien. If de- 
tected, punishment was as sure to follow, as night to day, and he was 
specially energetic in bending the twig. 

I remember a childish thought which occurred to me once or twice 
while under his tuition, at six years of age. It was this, that, as years 
rolled by, over both of us, the time would surely come when I should 
attain an equal jihysical ability with my lord and master ; and then 
an opportunity would be found for settling old accounts. Bvit the se- 
quel was pacific ; for in after years, I learned to appreciate and value 
all his labors for us. 

The old Meetiug-House which stood upon, or near the site of the pre- 
sent one, I can just remember, and the excitement which prevailed 
when it was taken down and the new one was erected. I must also 
hei'e, for a moment, refer to the venerated and learned pastor, the Rev. 
Paul Coffin, D. D., who was a pioneer "in the church of Christ in Bux- 
ton." 

I need not, if I could with delicacy and propriety, allude to the 
qualities of head and heart of my beloved grandfather, which he 
manifested to the congregation and people of his time, as a spiritual 
teacher for fifty-four years ; for the knowledge of his worth has de- 
scended from father to son for several generations. 

I shall, however, never forget my delight in listening, when a child, 
upon his knees, to the stories of his early struggles, as a minister of 
the gospel in a sparsely settled land, and the stirring adventures inci- 
dent to a life, as it were, in a wilderness. 

The State of Maine, like the other New England States, has lost, as 
residents, many of her sons and daughters ; gone to the South or 
West ; but, wherever we are, if unable to attend the appropriate exer- 
cises for the celebration of the day in person, we shall, I am sure, all 
of us, turn our thoughts with gladness to our native town and its 
present residents, and while thus joining them in their festivities, in 



140 BUXTON CENTEKNTAL, 

the " feast of reason and flow of soul," wish them, and their children 
and grandchildren in the century to come, all the blessings of this life. 

"And thus, as in memory's bark we shall glide, 

To visit the scenes of our boyhood aaew, 
Though oft we may see, looking down on the tide,^ 

The wreck of full many a hope shining through, 
Tet still, as in fancy we point to the flowers. 

That once made a garden of all the gay shore, 
Deceived for a moment, we'll think them still ours, 

And breathe the fresh air of life's memory once more." 

May a kind Providence watch over all of you, and those former resi- 
dents of Bnxton scattered about in the different States of this Union. 
May we all ti-ust in the great Ruler of the Universe as our guide ; and 
let our future motto be, wherever we are, God and our Country, Liber- 
ty and Fraternity. With great respect, 
Your obt. servt, 

. Charles E. Brewster. 



APPENDIX. 



INTRODUCTION. 

We have seen that the Historical Discourse gave a summary 
of the events which followed the acceptance and location of 
the grant, sketching withal some of the obstacles and hard- 
ships which fell to the lot of the pioneers, through a brief space 
of time, which may properly be distinguished as the period of 
settlement. A period, however, not fully completed when the 
outline of a municipal organization had become distinct by the 
passage of an act of incorporation. It also appears that up to 
that remote period, a majority of the settlers, for reasons al- 
ready given, had confined themselves and their works to the 
southwestern part of the territory, and to that adjacent to the 
Saco river ; while the progress of that, quite the larger part of 
the town, being sparsely settled and unmarked by those build- 
ings which being fostered by the general court, and public in 
their nature, index the determination of the bona fide settler, 
remained comparatively unknown. But to extend the history 
over that part, craves the development of later times and pass- 
ing the date of the incorporation woiild have dealt largely 
with municipal transactions and dusty records, to the exclusion 
of those items of individual history which ha\;e a greater local 
importance, and yet more liable to escape the chronicler's pen. 

With these considerations, and with a view of leading some 
of the unwritten past into channels kept open by substantial 
record, it was decided to complement the historical part of this 
work with an appendix, having a fuller share of personal mat- 
ter, the identity of homes and names, and bringing into closer 
communion for our own reflection, the grand old authors with 
the works as we see them, believing that, 

" There is a history in all men's lives, 
Fig'ring the nature of the times deceased." — Ed, 



142 APPENDIX. 

A 

KIMBALL. 

John Kimball. In a deed dated Aug. 28, 1764, John Kim- 
ball is described as of Narraganset No. 1, periwig-maker, and in 
a later deed as barber. March 12, 1765, Daniel Kimball, Benja- 
min Hawkes, and Deborah, wife of said Hawkes, all of Mai'ble- 
head, conveyed to the brothers, John Kimball, then of Narra- 
ganset No. 1, and Joshua, then of Marblehead, tanner, each one- 
half (Deborah doubtless being their sister, and Hawkes having 
no right except as her husband) of all the land in this town, 
" which our honoured Father Joshua Kimball purchased of one 
John Denison of Ipswich." This was the original right of John 
Denison. 

The deed from John Denison, of Ipsv, ich, weaver, and his 
wife Rebecca, conveys to Joshua Kimball, of Marblehead (fa- 
ther of our John and Joshua), wig-maker, all his right in this 
town ; and under this deed John and Joshua acquired Lot 23 
of Range E, 1st Division, and Denison's interest in the other 
divisions. Denison's deed to Kimball, senior, is dated Nov. 2, 
1749. John bought Joshua's half of said Lot 23. John bought 
of Gage and Migliill in 1765, Lot 12 of Range D, on which the 
first saw-mill was built, and he owned Lot 16, one-half of 17, 
and all of 18, 19, and 20, in the same Range. 

John Kimball also owned on Letter E of first Division, 
Lots 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28. 

Lots 12 and 13, he bought of Jacob Bradbury Oct. 30, 1765, 
who was the fiither, I suppose, of " Squire " Jacob Bradbury, 
to whom Mr. Kimball conveyed them Sept. 1, 1770. "When he 
bought and when he sold them there was a house and barn 
on Lot 12. 

Lots 20 and 21 were conveyed Dec. 18, 1760, by Obadiah 
Johnson, of Andover, blacksmith, to Richard Clay, of Narra- 
ganset No. 1, yeoman. In this deed it is stated that " said lots 
were sold to Saml. Conner, of Exeter, then to John Fowle, jr., 
of Woburn, then purchased by rae. The above two house-lots 
I sell to said Richard Clay for his doing the duty on the said 



APPENDIX. 143 

Rights [being tlie original Rights of Robert Swan and of Ed- 
ward Colcord], No.- 20 and 21, that I was obliged to do for set- 
tling the same." May 20, 1761, Clay sold these lots to Rish- 
worth Jordan, of Biddeford. There seems to be no deed on 
record from Jordan, but John Kimball bought them of Andrew 
Bradstreet and Benjamin Hooper, Aug. 8, 1765. On the 27th 
of July, 1765, Richard Clay, jr., conveyed to said Kimball 
about 20 acres on the Letter E, " whereon the said Richard 
now dwells." The lot is not named, but I make it out that it 
was, with scarcely a doubt. Lot 18, and so I have included it in 
his list of lots on E owned by John Kimball. 

It is probable that Clay's house stood on the southwesterly 
side of the road where Joshua Kimball and Moses Bradbury 
afterwards lived, as hereinafter mentioned, and where indica- 
tions of the site of a dwelling-house still exist. 

Mr. Daniel Dennett informs me that " the first two-story ^ 
house in town was on Beech Plain road, built by John and 
Joshua Kimball, with a cellar under the whole house. They 
moved from Marblehead, and each brought a slave. John's 
slave was a woman and Joshua had a man named Caesar. Josh- 
ua moved over to the 8 rod road, and built a two-story house 
which Pelatiah Came^ bought and moved to Salmon Falls," 
where it was burnt November, 1866. 

This last named house, which stood on Lot 22, Range C, 
1st Division, was not built by Mr. Kimball but by Joshua 
Woodman who first settled on this lot and owned adjacent lots, 
constituting his farm, which he lost by debt^ Joshua Kimball 
bought the house of John Garland by deed dated March 13, 
1769, in which it is desci-ibed as a " Double House of two 
stories," and in the deed Garland says, " I took said house from 
Joshua Woodman by Execution." Mr. John Elden told Mr. 
Dennett in 1867, that this house " stood a little west of the 



1 It may be that this was the first two-story house in town, but as Jolin did not buy 
the lot on wliich it stood until Aug. 8, 1765, it cannot be much, if any, older tlian the 
two-story house built by Rev. Mr. CoflSn, which is still standing. 

s Should be William Foss. 

80n losing this farm Joshua Woodman moved to Lot 2 of Range F, 2d Division, and 
there died. 



144 



APPENDIX. 



spot now occupied by Amos Kimball's barn." Others say it 
stood in the barnyard, but Mr. Elden is the better authority. 

As he bought the house in 1769, he probably settled there at 
that time, or a little before, as he bought Lots 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 
and 26 of Range C, 1st Division in April, 1768. 

Mr. Daniel Dennett writes in 1867:^ "I get the following 
from David Dennett. There was a grist mill on the north side 
of the eight-rod road owned by Joshiia, Richard, John, and 
Job Kimball,^ and Isaiah and Jonathan Brooks. Job Kim- 
ball was miller. They sold the mill to Isaac Lane, and he 
moved the mill to Salmon Falls about 1800. He says he was 
sent to mill when a small boy with a grist before breakfast and 
did not get his grist ground till night." 

For the site of this grist mill , on StackjDole brook, see Den- 
nett's map 1870. 

Eleazer Kimball was a housewright in Biddeford in 1750 
and 1753. He was living in Buxton March 28, 1763. He 
owned and perhaps lived on Lot 10, Range D, 2d Division, 
which he sold August 21, 1767. 

From a memorandum on one of Dr. Coffins sermons it 
seems that he died here Nov. 11, 1767. Whether he was re- 
lated to John and Joshua I do not know. He married Eliza- 
beth Seavey Nov. 17, 1748. They had children baptized as 
follows : 

1749-50, January 28, Elizabeth. 

1751, March 31, Hannah. 

1752, May 24, Lydia. 

1753, August 11, Eleazer. 

1758, March 25, Sarah. , 

And perhaps others. 

John Ejmball. Mr. Dennett, as above mentioned, says that 
the two-story house on Lot 21, Range E, was built by John 
and Joshua Kimball. This may mean John and his brother 
Joshua or John and his son Joshua. Joshua the brother nev- 

1 Job, probably, was not one of the owners. 



APPElJTDIX. " 145 

er owned any part of Lot 21, or the adjacent lots so far as the 
records show, which is prima facie evidence that he never 
owned any part of the house. The probability is that John, 
the first settler, brother of Joshua who married Martha Elden, 
and father of Joshua who married Abigail Earl, and who 
owned Lot 21, built the two-story house Avhich stood upon it. 
John, jr., son of said Jolm, lived on the opposite side of the 
road from his father and near the brook, and " built him a house 
on the land reserved for a road between Lots 19 and 20. The 
cellar is still visible." On Dennett's map, I think the name on 
Lot 21 would have been put down as John rather than Joshua, 
if Mr. Dennett had known the facts here stated. 

The house was taken down and carried away by Benjamin 
Grant. 

John Kimball, senior, wdio came from Marblehead, had four 
sons and one daughter, viz.: 

Joshua raai-ried May 21, 1789, Abigail, daughter of Joshua 
Earl or HeairP who moved from Beech Plain road to Hollis. 
He, Joshua Kimball, lived for a time in a house which stood on 
the westerly side of the brook, between his brother John's 
house and Joshua Earl's house, and on the southerly side of the 
road. The site of the house is still visible (1872). It is not 
noted on Dennett's map. He sold this house to Moses, son of 
'Squire Bradbury. When Joshua sold out to Bradbury he 
went to the two-story house of his father, where he and his 
wife died, as did also his father before him. This Moses Brad- 
bury was the gi^andfather of Capt. Wm. F. Goodwin. 

Joshua Earl married Sarah, a sister of 'Squire Bradbury. 
He lived near Thomas Emery, who bought Earl's house (when 
he moved to Hollis) and tore it down. See Dennett's map. 
Col. Isaac Emery thinks that Joshua Kimball died early in the 
present century, as he remembers his death when he was a 
small boy.^ He does not remember John the father. By mis- 
take Capt. Goodwin puts down this Joshua as the son of Josh- 

^I have his signature. He signed liimself Heairl. 

21 find tliat the estate of Joshua Kimball, jr., was administered upon in 1814, when 
Col. Emery was not a very small boy. 

J 



146 



APPENDIX. 



ua who lived on Lot 22 of Range C, 1st Division. See Good- 
win's Narraganset, page 292. 

Ricliard married Molly Boynton, April 4, 1796. Settled in 
Lisbon, Me. 

John, jr., married Susanna Patterson, of Saco, June 13, 179C. 

He moved to the eastward ; sold his house to Isaac Lord 
who, in moving it to Saco^ had his leg so injured that it was 
amputated, and he died in the oj^eration. 'It is now owned and 
occupied by his nejihew Ivory and his mother, the widow of 
James Lord. 

Job was never married. He lived with his brother Richard, 
at Lisbon, and there died. Benjamin Grant was his guardian. 
He signed his name thus. Job Kimbll. 

Sally married Benjamin Grant. They were published Nov. 
29, 1800. 

Mrs. Eliza, widow of William Woodman, now (1873) living 
at the Bar Mills, tells me that John Kimball, senior, married 
Sarah Burnham of Scarboro', a sister of lier father, and that 
Mr. Kimball died deranged before her recollection, and his wife 
died when she was young. 

The following information in regard to this family, is fur- 
nished by Joel M. Marshall, Esq. 

Joshua Kimball married Martha,^ eldest daughter of Cajit. 
John Elden, April 20, 1767. 

Their children were as follows : 

Daniel, born March 27, 1768 ; married Mary Bryant, March 
2, 1790 ; died June 22, 1851, at Buxton. He lived at Kimball's 
corner. 

Martha, born Feb. 7,1770; married Ephraim Bryant, May 
80, 1787 ; lived at Lovell, Maine; died 1860. 

iJIrs. Martha Kimball was remarkable for her fortitude and decision of character. 
She possessed also, those sterling qualities, benevolence and kindness, which charac- 
terized the early mothers of Buxton ; and her sound judgment was a great aid to her 
husband in the management of his domestic affairs. It was related to me by " imcle 
John Merrill," son of Lieut. Men-ill, that she killed the last wolf that was killed in 
Buxton. 

She discovered the wolf prowling about the edge of the woods near the house, 
about the middle of the afternoon, while her husband was away, and fearing his dep- 
redation on their flock of sheep, she loaded the gun, went to the barn, approached 
him and shot him with her own hands. She died June 2C, 1820.— Ed. 



APrENDIX. 



147 



Deborah, born ISTov. 12, 1771 ; married Josepli Smith of ITol- 
lis (now Dayton), Oct. 11, 1792; died in 1863. 

Joshua, jr., born Oct. 28,1773 ; married Sarah Loavitt, oldest 
daughter of Dea. Daniel Leavitt, July 7, 1793 ; died in IIolHs 
in 1859. 

Ruth, born Sept. 27, 1775; married Samuel Came, of Bux- 
ton, Sept. 4, 1796; died Sept. 13, 1846. 

Lydia, born Sept. 5, 1777; never married ; died in Buxton at 
the house of Amos Kimball, December, 1859. 

Mary, born Sept. 22, 1779; married Ebenezer Day, of Limer- 
ick, Aug. 2, 1812 ; died in 1856. 

Naomi, born Jan. 17, 1781 ; married Samuel Lane, Sept. 8, 
1805; lived in Oldtown, Maine; died in 1856. 

Elizabeth, born January 2, 1784; married Capt. Joel Mar- 
shall, July 5, 1807 ; died April 18, 1833, in Buxton. 

Hannah, born January 21, 1787; married Josei^h Gilpatrick, 
of Limerick, Sept. 5, 1813; died in Alleghany Co., New York, 
1851. 

Sarah, born Nov. 18, 1788 ; never married ; died in Saco, 1867. 

Amos, born Aug. 18, 1790; married Abigail Young, Novem- 
ber, 1815 ; she died June 3, 1827. Ilis second wife was Mrs. 
Joanna Barnard, of Kennebunk. 

Amos Kimball died Sept. 23, 1863. 

Joshua Kimball, senior, died April 15, 1823, and was buried 
on his homestead in Buxton. 



B 

I suppose that the men who signed the call for a meeting, 
dated May 17, 1751, were all living here at that time. 
I add some notes in regard to each of them. 

WOODMAN. 

It is certain that Joseph Woodman was here in 1742. See 
Goodwin's Narraganset, page 50. 

He and his brother Joshua were both settled here in 1750, as 
appears from a deed dated August 6 of that year. 



148 APPENDIX. 

Their brother Natlian probably came a few years later. 
They were all born in Newbury, Mass., and were sons of Ben- 
jamin Woodman of Byfield Parish, who married Elizabeth, 
daughter of William Longfellow of the same i^arish, who, I 
suppose, is the ancestor of all the Longfellows in New England, 
if not of all in the United States. Benjamin Woodman was 
the grandson of Edward who came from England, and the son 
of Joshua, on whose gravestone at Byfield Parish one may still 
read that he was the "first man child borne in Newbury." 

The three Woodman brothers \Aio settled here were cousins- 
germau of Stephen Longfellow, the first of the name who set- 
tled in Portland. They all had large fxmilics and their de- 
scendants are numerous. 

Of Joseph and Joshua, Charles Coflin, Esq., says : " They 
were both leading men among the first settlers," as indeed is 
apparent from the proprietors' records. 

Joseph settled at Pleasant Point, and contiuucd there until 
he was an old man, when he moved to the Ilollis side of the 
river, where he died June 4, 1796, in a house occupied by him 
and Ills step-son Edgecomb, which stood on the hill over against 
the falls in the rear of and but a few rods from the house now 
occupied by Almon E. Johnson, He was buried at Pleasant 
Point on land which, I suppose, was once a part of his farm, 
but the grave is not known. 

Of Joshua I have said something in Appendix A. He died 
in 1800, and was buried near the meeting-house at the Lower 
Corner. Ilis grave is unknown to his descendants, except to 
one or two of them to whom I have shown it. 

Nathan was, apparently, not a prominent man like his broth- 
ers. He lived many years at Pleasant Point, but died in ITollis 
at the house of his son Shubael in 1812, it is said. He was 
buried in the graveyard on the Hollis side not far above the 
Bar Mills, and near the river. His grave is unknown. 

I am preparing for thej^ress a list of the descendents of these 
three brothei-s down to and including their great grandchildren, 
in which I shall incorjiorate such facts as I have learned in re- 
gard to them. I therefore do not speak of thcni here as fully 
as I otherwise should. 



APPENDIX, 149 



O 



ELDEN. 

Some account of Jolin Elden and his descendants may be 
found in Goodwin's Narraganset, pages 359 and 360. 

By a deed dated October 12, 1750, we learn that he was then 
of Narragauset No. 1, and that he was then John Elden, jr. 
He was probably the son of John Elden of Saco, who married 
Martha Knight, daughter of Nathan Knight of Scarborough, 
and who died about 1746. He was married to Ruth Sands, 
Dec. 17, 1747. The deed above named conveyed to him Lot 
9 of Range B, 1st Division, and on or near this lot tradition 
l^laces his first residence in this town. I say near this lot, for I 
find that Mr. Dennett on his map places the site of the house 
on Lot 10. This is probably an error, for I do not find any 
evidence that he ever owned Lot 10. On Lot 9 he probably 
lived, and on this lot his son Nathan, who is said to have been 
the first male child born in the town, probably first saw the 
liglit, March 21, 1752.^ 

On the 28th of Nor. 1760, John Elden bought Lot 4 of 
Range D, 1st Division, where he made his home until his death, 
which took place in May 1793. Charles Cofiin, Esq., says that 
he "was an active and enterprising man" and that lie "com- 
manded a company at the siege of Boston, with reputation. "=^ 
Captain Elden's homestead has been owned and occupied by 
his descendants until this day, but none of them know where 
he was buried. He had a large family and his descendants 
are numerous. He was one of the three who built mills on 
Little River (Leavitt's Mills) in 1761. 

The proprietors' records show that both he and his son 



iTlie house stood ou tlie riglit-hand side of the road leading from Salmon Falls to 
Union Falls, on land now owned by Edwin Turner. The cellar is still plainly visible. 
His oldest son Nathan was born here and pro bably others. — Ed, 

"-1 found a commission to him as captain among the archives of Massachusetts, in 
the State House, Boston. 



150 APPENDIX. 

Nathan were promiueut men in town, as was also Capt. Gibcon 
Elden at a soniewbat later period. The last-named built the 
two-story house now standing on Lot 4, Range D, 1st Division, 
and there died, Oct. 7, 1841. 

Capt. Gibeon Eldcn's birth is erroneously stated in Good- 
win's Narraganset. Joel M. Marshall, Esq., informs me that it 
should stand June 2, 1761. 

I have the signature of John Elden under date of October 
14, 1755. 

[The ancestry of this John Elden is by no means definitely 
known to his descendants here ; they claim that the Eldens 
came from Newbury, Mass., but the town clerk of Newbury 
states that the name of Elden docs not appear on the town 
records before the year 1700, and he thinks it cannot be found 
since that time. 

We find John Elden in Biddeford in 1732, at which time he 
was elected highway surveyor there, he was either Capt. John 
or his father. 

The Eldens of Buxton are descendants of Capt. John, who 
came from Biddeford ; his children were — 

Martha, born Oct. 14, 1748. 

Mary, born May 17, 1750. 

Nathan, born March 21, 1752. 

John, jr., born April 10, 1754. 

Emma, born July 9, 1756. 

Elizabeth, born Oct, 5, 1750. 

Gibeon, born June 2, 1761. 

Ruth, born Dec. 9, 17G3. 

Lydia, born Jan. 12, 1766. 

Hannah, born April 13, 1769. 

Children of Nathan Elden and his wife, Elizabeth Roberts : 

Martha, born Oct. 7, 1772. 

Nathan, born Nov. 29, 1774. 

Sarah, born March 9, 1779, died Dec. 6, 1801. 

Polly, born Jan. 5, 1781. 

John, born March 12, 1783. 

William, born July 5, 1785. 



APPENDIX. 151 

Ruth, born Nov. 4, 1787. 

Olive, born May 16, 1790. 

Samuel, born Oct. 7, 1792. 

Emma, born March 1, 1795. 

Children of John Elden, jr., and his wife, Dorcas Foss : 

Dorcas, born May 13, 1778 ; married John Hanson, of Bux- 
ton. 

Ruth, born Nov. 23, 1781. 

Nathaniel, born May 21, 1783 ; died Sept. 17, 1805. 

Abigail, born Aug. 2, 1785 ; married Jacob ToAvnsend, of 
Buxton. 

Narcissa, born Dec, 6, 1787 ; married Peletiah Came, of Bux- 
ton, 

James F., born Sept. 20, 1789. 

Mary, born Sept. 7, 1793 ; married Moses Davis, of Holhs. 

John, born Oct. 1, 1797; married Harriet Dennett, of Bux- 
ton. 

Children of Capt. Gibcon Elden and his Avife, Susanna 
Whitney. 

Moses, born Dec. 8, 1781. 

Silas, born Sept. 16, 1783. 

Hannah, born June 8, 1785. 

Ruth, born Feb. 23, 1787. 

Nathaniel Hill, born Nov. 13, 1789. 

Louisa, born March 12, 1792. 

John, born March 29, 1794. 

Aphia, born May 10, 1798. 

Samuel, born Sept. 25, 1800. 

Susanna, born Aug. 10, 1802. 

Capt. Gibeon Elden died Oct. 7, 1841. 

Mrs. Susanna Elden died Jan. 19, 1832.]— Ed. 



152 APPENDIX. 



REDLON, RIDLON, RIDLEY. 

John Redlon's narae is appended to a call for a i)ropi"ietors' 
meeting, dated May 17, 1751, and he was then, presumably, 
living here. 

I do not know the genealogy of this John Redlon, but he 
married Sarah Brooks, Oct. 9, 1749. They were then both of 
Biddeford, which included Saco. On the 26th of May, 1751, 
their son Robert was baptized. June 3, 1753, they had another 
child baptized at Narraganset No. 1, name not recorded. Feb. 
1, 1756, their daughter Susanna was baptized. 

On the 1st of May, 1756, he bought Lot 24 of Range D of 
the 1st Division, and 20 acres of Lot 8 in Range D of the 2d 
Division, also one-half of the common and undivided lands 
belonging to the right of John Brown. These lands he owned 
at the time of his death, which occurred jn-obably in 1761, as 
administration on his estate was granted in that year to Abra- 
ham Redlon of Biddeford. lie was residing here at tlie time 
of his death. He was probably a son of Magnus Ridlon, as 
Magnus in his will dated Dec. 10, 1766, speaks of a son John 
deceased, as also of Magnus his grandson, son of John. Mag- 
nus Redlon died in 1772, JE. 78. His will speaks of Matthias, 
Ebenezer, Daniel, Jeremiah, John (deceased), Jacob (deceased), 
Elizabeth, widow of his son Jacob, and Elizabeth her daughter, 
his granddaughter; and of Grandson Magnus, above mentioned. 
In regard to John Redlon, see also Appendix E, 

It seems from the pro2:)rietors' records that Ebenezer Redlon 
and Jacob Redlon were inhabitants of this town in 1761. See 
Goodwin's Narraganset, page 181. Ebenezer Redlon married 
Sarah Young, Aug. 8, 1751. They were then both of Bidde- 
ford.i 



iFrom a memoraadum made by Capt. Daniel Lane, dated iMay 5, 1777, it seems that 
Ebeuezer Redlon died in the army. He enlisted in the company of said Lane and was 
mustered into service March 11, 1777. 



APPENDIX. 153 

Feb. 29, 1756, their two cliildren Anna and Ebenezer were 
baptized. Their son Jonathan was baptized April 17, 1757. 
In 1762, Ebenezer bought Lot 19 in Range D of the 1st Divis- 
ion, which he conveyed to John Kimball in 1768. 

Matthias Redlon and Rachel Edgecomb were married Dec. 29, 
17'18, being then both of Biddeford. These were their chil- 
dren. There may have been more. 

Their son Matthias was baptized July 8, 1750. 

Rachel was baptized Dec. 12, 1751. 

James " " June 16, 1754. 

Thomas " " May 9, 1756. 

Mary " " Aug. 20, 1758. 

John « " June 21, 1761. 

Jacob " « Aug. 17, 1766. 

Magnus " « April 22, 1770. 

Sarah " " Aug. 4, 1771. 

Matthias Redlon and his wife were here as early as June 21, 
1761. His homestead fiirm consisted of Lots 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 
on Range D of the first Division. He conveyed this, March 
14, 1786, to Samuel Scamman of Saco, " with the Dwelling 
House and Barn thereon," having previously conveyed to his 
son Matthias, jr., thirty acres from the northeasterly part of 
said lots. Matthias Ridlon, jr., of Buxton, married Elizabeth 
Field of Saco, Sept. 6, 1772. 

Of Jacob Redlon whose name appears on the proprietors' 
records as above mentioned, I know nothing. I leave him to 
be hunted up by his relatives, if they have any interest in him.^ 

Magnus Redlon was here in 1742. It was probably he who 
died in Saco in 1772, aged 78 years. 

On the 10th of April, 1767, Mary, daughter of Matthias Red- 
lon of ISTarraganset No. 1, was burnt to death in the house of 
James Edgecomb, of Saco, at Edgecomb's meadow, so called, 
together with Reliance, daughter of said Edgecomb, and Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Samuel Fletcher. The follo\ving was fur- 
nished by Rev. G. T. Ridlon, of Amesbury, Mass.: 

^Rev. John Fairfield of Saco makes the following entry: "17C5, April 25, Jacob 
Riclleu drowned near his father's house, 2E 25." Magnus in his will above mentioned, 
speaks of a sou Jacob deceased. 



154 



APPENDIX. 



The family bearing the above names is one of very ancient 
origin ; they deduce their descent from Walgrinus, au Earl of 
Piragord in France, and relative of " Charles the Bold." From 
"Walgrinus seven generations succeeded before the surname 
Avas adopted. The name was derived from Galfridus de Rydale, 
who was thus distinguished from a cousin bearing the same 
christian name. The name was soon changed to Eidell^ thence 
to Ridel^ thence to HiddeU, which last form was continued 
until they came to England in 10C5, with Y/illiam the Con- 
queror. They Avere granted large lands in Northumberland- 
shire, England, and in Roxburgshire, Scotland ; and Gervasious 
Avas the first High Sheriff of the county last named, in the time 
of King David, with Avhom he Avas a great favorite, and from 
whom he received large grants of land by royal charter. From 
Kinglass, Scotland, came Magnus Riddell in 1690, and sailing 
to American shores deserted the English naval vessel "Planter," 
and settled at " Saco Ferry." He married Massie Townscnd, 
and reared a cabin near where Mr. Winfield Dennett noAV 
(1874) lives. By this union eight sons Avere born to them, viz., 
Matthias, Daniel, Ebenezer, Abraham, John, Jeremiah, Robert, 
and Jacob. Matthias settled in Buxton; thence to "Little 
Falls Plantation" in 1762; he reared a family of eleven chil- 
dren, and died Avhen A^ery old at the home of his son Jacob. 
Daniel, before named, liA^ed in Saco and reared a large flimily ; 
hut died in Limerick at the home of his son Daniel. Ebenezer 
settled in Buxton, had issue, Ebenezer, jr., David, Jeremiah, 
Anna, Sarah and Susan, and himself died in said tOAvn. Eben- 
ezer, jr., married Sarah Ilanscom, resided in Buxton, and had 
issue twelve children, of Avhom two died in infancy. Among 
the children of Ebenezer, jr., Avere Lsaac and Amos of Buxton, 
and Rev. Ebenezer Redlon, now resident at Pierceville, Ripley 
Co., Indiana. David, before named, married, settled in Buxton 
and had issue three children, Isaac, Avho married Deborah Han- 
son, Abigail and Elizabeth. His Avife died when one of his 
children Avas small ; after Avhich he Avent to the eastern part 
of Maine and changed his name to Ridley. Jeremiah, Anna, 
and Sarah Avere not married but lived toccether near " Haines' 



APPENDIX. 155 

Meadow" until ca good old age. From Ebcnezer, sou of Mag- 
nus the original Scotcli- American ancestor, arc descended all 
of the Buxton branches ; and they have nearly all continued to 
spell the name liedlon. Magnus changed his name from liid- 
dell to Hidddon, tlicnce reduced it to liedlon ; which latter 
form nearly all of the first three generations adoj^tod. The 
name, however, was changed by the branch Avhich settled in 
Hollis, to Ridlon, and thence, by the descendants of Matthias 
who settled in Wayne, Maine, to Ridley ; hence, those three 
forms are now used in the native State. Two brothers, sons of 
Matthias, emigrated to Ohio in 1809, since when their descend- 
ants, of which there are hundreds scattered through the West, 
liave spelled the name Bidleji. There are fomilics of Hidleys 
in Maine who have no American connection with the descend- 
ants of Magnus ; descended from Marke Ridley who settled on 
Cape Cod about 1640. The original Magnus had three broth- 
ers and eight sisters in Scotland ; their descendants now live 
there, and are eminent men, some of them members of Parli- 
ament. There have been eight hundred and fifty descendants 
of Magnus born by tlie Ridlon, Redlon, or Ridley name ; and 
four of them have reached more than one hundred years of 
age ; one died in Ohio in 1858, at the great age of one hundred 
and six years. There were 20 members of the descent in 1872 
whose ages would average eighty years; and there are noio liv- 
ing seven in one family, four brothers and three sisters, the 
youngest of whom is seventy-nine; three of them above ninety. 
[See a Genealogical History of the entire race, comprising a 
pedigree of a thousand years, and about six thousand names^ 
published by Rev. G. T. Ridlon, Amesbury, Mass.] 

Jeremiah, Abraham, and Jacob, sons of Magnus the Scotch- 
man, lived and died at Saco. Robert, one of his younger sons, 
went to Damariscotta when a boy, learned the blacksmith trade 
and reared several children ; one of whom, Magnus, came to 
IloUis and married Hannah Ridlon, daughter of Matthias ; he 
died in Buxton. Two brothers of this Magnus, Nathaniel and 
John, settled, the former in Bath and the latter in Newcastle, 
Maine, where their descendants now reside. The Ridlons in 
Saco are nearly all descendants of Daniel, son of Magnus. 



156 APPENDIX. 

John, sou of Magnus, lived in Buxton ; but none of his de- 
scendants are noAv living. Jacob was married, bad issue one 
daughter and was drowned in Saco, aged 25 years. Some 
other families lived in Buxton for a few years, at diflerent 
times. Every person's name descended from Magnus will be 
found in the family history before-mentioned, with all collater- 
al branches in France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, and 
United States. 



E 

BROOKS. 

We know that a John Brooks was in this town in 1739, and 
that he and Robert Brooks were settled here in 1742. I know 
nothing of their ancestors or their relationship to each other. 
John's name is prominent in the early history of the town. On 
the 19th of Feb., 1738, being then of Biddeford, he bought the 
half of one whole right in this town, it being one-half of the 
right of Richard Brier, and Dec. 13, 1751, being then of Narra- 
gansct No. 1, he sold the same to James Gray of Biddeford. 

In 1752, this John Brooks, then of this town, bought Lot 8 
of Range B 1st Division, and in 1758, one-half of the adjoin- 
ing Lot 7. On the 29th of September, John Brooks "of the 
Block House on Saco river," conveyed the whole of these two, 
lots to Joseph Woodman, who sold tlicm to John Ilopkinson 
in 1753. 

In the request of May 17, 1751, for a proprietors' meeting, 
we have the names of John Brooks and John Brooks, jr. In 
what relationship they stood to each other I do not know, but 
John junior Avas, probably, I think, the son of Robert and 
Sai'ah Brooks, hereinafter mentioned. 



APPENDIX. 



157 



^Robert Brooks^ on the 20tli of November, 1738, being then 
of Biddeford (which then incUided Snco), bought Lot 24: of 
Range C, 1st Division, and sokl the same in 1741, — his wife 
Sarah signing the deed,— to Job Roberts, his wife's son by a 
former marriage. 

By reference to my address under date of 1742, it will be 
seen that he was living here at that date. 

He was, perhaps, a brotlier of John Brooks who was here 
at the same time. I have in my possession an original deed 
signed by Sarah, the wife of Robert above-named. As it is of 
interest not only to this family, but also to the Redlons and 
Martins, I copy it in full. 

"Know all men, that I Sarah Brooks of Narraganset Town- 
ship No. 1, in the County of York widow to Robert Brooks 
late of Biddeford in the County aforesaid Gent, late Deceased 
For and Consideration of the Sum of One pound five shillings 
& Seven pence Lawfal money to me in hand Secured to be 
paid by my Son John Brooks of Narraganset afores'd Hus- 
bandman his heirs & assigns annually during my natural Life 
and the Sam of Twelve) Shillings & nine pence half penny 
to me in hand secured to be paid annually During my Natural 
Life by John Ridliu of said Narraganset Husbandman and the 
sum of Twelve Shillings & nine pence half penny secured to 
be paid by David Martin of said Narraganset his heirs & as- 
signs during my Natural Life and the sum of Twelve Shillings 
& nine pence half penny Secured to be paid by my Son 
Isaiah Brooks of said Narraganset his heirs S- assigns annual- 
ly during my Natural Life do for the foregoing considerations 
Give Grant & Convey to them the said John Brooks John 

*I have ill my possession Uie commission given to Eobert Brooks, Gentleman, by 
Governor William Shirley, of IMassachusetts Bay Province, to be Lieutenant of the 
company under the command of Captain Ammi Rahamah Cutter, in the regiment 
whereof Jeremiah Moulton, Esq., is Colonel, being part of the forces raised within 
this Trovince for an expedition against Cape Breton, of which forces, William Pepper- 
ell is appointed Commander-in-Chief. 

Given under the hand and seal of said Governor, at Boston, in the eighteenth year 
of the reign of our then Sovereign Lord, King George the Second, Annoq Donaini 
1741. Cape Breton was then in the possession of the French.— Ed. 

'He was admitted to the church in Biddeford, July 10, 1743. 



158 APPENDIX. 

Ridliii David Martin and Isaiah Brooks^ their Heirs and assigns 

forever all ray Right of Thirds to the Real Estate of ray said 

Deceased Husband to he Improved and Held to their heirs and 

assigns forever free from all Incumbrances ^^'hatevcr 

In Witness whereof I have hereto Set my hand and Seal 

this Eighteenth day of February in tliis 29th year of his 

Magestys Reign Annoq Domini 174G. 

Sarah BiiooKS [l. s.] 

Signed Sealed & Delivered 
In presence of 
Amos Chase 
Samuel White 

York ss March IGth, 1756. Then Sarah Brooks personally 

appearing acknowledged the within written Instrument to be 

her free Act & Deed. Before 

JoxATHAN Bean,^ Jiisi. Pccicer 

From what Mr. John Brooks, now living, says, as hereinafter 
quoted, it seems that David Martin married a daughter of Rob- 
ert Brooks, and from the deed it would seem probable that 
John Redlon also married a daughter, though Mr. Brooks does 
not know of any such relationship. A Mr. John Redlon died 
in Narraganset No. 1, probably in 17G1, as administration was 
granted that year on his estate. This is probably the John 
RidHn mentioned in the deed. 

• These sons of Robert, viz., John and Isaiah settled in this 
town. They were both in the military company of Capt. 
Josej)h Woodman in 1757 ; at least these names are on the roll. 

iTlie grantees named in this deed couvej'ed the same premises Feb. 19, 175C, to Amos 
Chase of Biddeford. Hannah signs the deed as the wife of David Martin, Sarah as 
wife of John Ridlon. Isaiah Brooks was then under age, and his mother signs as his 
guardian. The land is described as lying in Biddeford, which then inclnded Saco. It 
probably conveyed the farm in Saco, which was for so many years the homestead of 
the venerable Deacon Amos Chase ; for in a letter to me from John Brooks, dated at 
New Durham, N. H., Dec. 22, 1872, he says: " My gi-andfather was said to come from 
England, and mamed widow Roberts and settled in Saco about two [one ?] miles 
from the old meeting-house on the Ferry road, and on tlie same site where Deacon 
Samuel [Amos] Chase lived in after years." 

'Capt. Jonathan Bean of the " Saco Block House," born in or about 1C93. His son, 
Lieut. Jonathan, born in or about 1719, was the father of Jonatlian 0>. Oct. 9, 1758), 
who married Phebe Brooks in 1783. 



APPENDIX. 159 

On the 18th of Feb., 175G, Amos Chase, of Saco (then Bidde- 
ford), conveyed to John Brooks, Isaiah Brooks (record reads 
Josiah), and John Redlon land in this town as follows : To 
Isaiah Brooks Lot 10 on Range E of the 1st Division and 
twenty acres of Lot 5 on Range E of the 2d Division, together 
with one-half of all after divisions belonging to the right con- 
nected with these lots, namely, the right of John Baker. To 
John Brooks and John Redlon the deed conveyed forty acres, 
being the remainder of said Lot 5 of Range E, and one-half of 
all after divisions belonging to said Right. 

On the 1st of December, 1760, Isaiah Brooks bought the ad- 
jacent Lot 9 in Range E of the 1st Division. He afterwards 
bought of Jacob Bradbury the northeasterly half of Lot 10, 
Range D, 1st Division, adjoining the lots above-named. These 
lots, including also, I suppose, Lot 11 of Range E, constituted 
his homestead. See Dennett's map. 

I get the following information from John Brooks, of Farm- 
iugton, N". H., a son of Isaiah. 

"I never knew of my father having but two sisters.^ One 
married David Martin [who had] one son by the name of John. 
The other married Thomas Pennell, they had three sons, 
Ephraim, James, and Thomas, and one girl that died about 18 
years old by the bite of a mad fox." "Job Roberts was a half- 
brother to my father. He had a son Joseph who married Lydia 
Burnham, and a girl, Molly, who married Ezekiel Bragdon. 
All settled in Hollis." 

Concerning the first saw-mill at Salmon Falls, of which his 
father was one of the owners, he says that the dam was built 
about " 100 rods up river from where the mill now is. They 
built a short wing dam about thirty feet long and took the 
water by a flume, 750 feet long, to the mill which was built, 
you might say, on dry land." They hauled the plank for the 
flume " from Konsuch mills in Dunstan, say six miles ; a part of 

^Thomas Pennell and Hannah Brooks, then both of Biddeford (Saco ?),were man-ied 
March 28, 1743. This is, perhaps, the sister of whom Mr. Brooks speaks, but they do 
not sign the deed before mentioned to Amos Chase. Perhaps Pennell had died prior 
to the deed to Chase in 1756, and his widow may have maiTied David Martin. In 1770, 
Thomas Pennell and Lydia Sands, then both of this town, were married. 



160 APPENDIX. 

them on a sled in the summer time." "They carried their 
boards to Saco, there had them taken for debt, then came a 
freshet and took mill, flmiie and all away." 

Mr. Brooks says that the first mill at Salmon Falls was built 
by his father, Joshua Woodman, and Lieut. Merrill. This is 
tradition and I have found no confirmation of the statement 
as regards the two last-named jicrsons. 

After the mill was carried away he says, " then my father 
and many others built a dam across the river, the most of 
which remains to this day. In sixty days from the time when 
the dam was finished they got the saw to go up and down." 

"I am most eighty-one years old and never used any glasses." 

" I discovered an old cellar in my father's pasture. He said 
it was where old Deacon Nason settled." " My grandfather 
had two sons, John and Isaiah. Isaiah was born June 12, 1736, 
in Saco, and he was my father ; moved when a young man to 
Buxton. He died in 1819, 83 years old. 

My grandmother Brooks spent her last days with my father 
and died in Buxton." 

John Bkooks, son of Robert. 

On the 25th of October, 1750, John Brooks, then styled 
junior, married Bethiah Brown. They were then both of 
Biddeford or Saco. 

On the 27th of September, 1758, Josei^h Coflin and Dr. 
Nathaniel Coffin deeded Lot 16, Range E, 1st Division to him 
" for and in Consideration of John Brooks, jr., of Narragansett 
No : 1 : in the County of York aforesaid in New England, 
Cordwainer truly and faithfully settling one Right or Proprie- 
tors share in said Narragansett No : 1 : viz, the originally 
Right laid to one Abiel Saidler as by Record may appear, and 
upon said Brooks fulfilling the Courts order to all intents and 
Purposes on said whom [home] lott." This deed shows un- 
doubtedly where he first settled. In 1762 he conveyed this 
lot, his wife Bethia joining in the deed, to Thomas Cutts, of 
Saco, who in 1763 conveyed it to Thomas Hovey, of Boxford. 
In May, 1762, he is still styled junior. 

They had children : 



APPENDIX. 161 

Abigail, baptized in BiddGfora, June 14, 1752; married John 
Edgerly, Ajiril 26, 1774. 

Robert, bajitized in Biddoford, June 23, 1754, married Rebec- 
ca Hopkinson, Sept. 28, 1784. He settled in Buxton on the 
road leading from Daniel Appleton's to the Bar Mills. 

Bethia, born in Buxton, Doc. 9, 1756; married Nathl. Wood- 
man, Nov. 29, 1781 ; died probably in 1796. 

Sarah, born in Buxton, June 1, 1759. 

Sam.uel, born in Buxton, March 19, 1761; married Lucy 
Berry, Dec. 27, 1785; died in Porter. 

Phebe, born in Buxton, March 7, 1764; married Jonathan 
Bean, Sept. 4, 1783; died Oct. 10, 1829. 

Isaiah, died in infoncy. 

Isaiah Brooks, son of Robert. 

Was born in Saco, June 12, 1736. He married Sarah Burn- 
ham, July 14, 1769. She was born in Scarboro'. His son John 
states that he died in Buxton, August, 1819. He joined the 
Congregational church, 1771. His wife died in New Durham, 
N. H., 1815. He lived on Beech Plain Road. See Dennett's 
map. In regard to his house, Mr. Peter Emery writes, that 
" Rev. Levi Loring bought it of John Brooks, son of Isaiah, 
and lived there two years. He then moved it over on the other 
road between Asa Brown's and Michael Hanson's house,^ where 
it now stands occupied by the widow of Edward P. Hanson and 
owned by her." I have his signature under date of May 5, 1791. 

His children Avere : 

Jonathan, born August 4, 1771 ; married Abigail Owen, Oct. 
25, 1795. He died June 3, 1829. She died Sept. 7, 1846. 
They had children, William, born July 12, 1801 ; Alexander, 
born Sept. 4, 1804; Ellen, Sarah, Eliza, died Sept. 8, 1846; 
Olive, died April 26, 1837. Order of birth of the children not 
known to me. 

Isaiah, baptized April 25, 1773; married Olive Harmon, of 
Scarborough, Nov. 29, 1792. Settled in Hollis. His first wife 

iThe Michael Hanson house is one of the oldest houses in Buxton. It was built by 
Capt. John Lane, and stood where Mi-. Nathan Woodman now lives, and where Mr. 
Tristram Eaton remembers to have seen it as a dilapidated house when ho was a boy. 
He was 91 years old the ICth of December last. 
K 



162 APPENDIX. 

died April 20, 1806. His second wife was Anna Roberts, ile 
died April 30, 1850. She died May 30, 1834. 

Children : I^Iary, born April 5, 1802 ; died April 4, 1852. 
Nathaniel, born July 13, 1807; died Feb. 14, 1828. Dorcas, 
born April 26, 1812; died Nov. 28, 1871. Charles, born Sept. 
22, 1813. Ruth, born Jan. 2, 1819. Isaiah, born Sept. 16, 1825 ; 
died Sept. 25, 1866. 

Nathaniel, baptized May 28, 1775 ; died Dec. 25, 1803. 

Robert, born April 20, 1778; died July 23, 1822. Married 
Margaret Randall, of Saco. She was born April 26, 1784, and 
died Nov. 15, 1863. Their children were Harriet, born Aug. 
17, 1811 ; died Feb. 6, 1850. Nancy, born Jan. 22, 1815 ; died 
April 7, 1861. Margaret Ann, born Dec. 5, 1817. Robert set- 
tled on the opposite side of the road from his father and re- 
mained there until his death. 

Sarah, born Nov. 13, 1781 ; died April 27, 1782 ; baptized 
April 13, 1782. 

Hannah, baptized May 2, 1784. 

Sarah, baptized Aug. 13, 1786. 

John, born April 2, 1792 ; baptized July 22, 1792 ; married 
Phebe Davis ; moved to New Durham, N. H,, in 1818. By his 
first wife he had Catharine, born 1819 ; died unmarried in 1849 ; 
and a son, John, born in 1823. By his second wife, Eliza 
Pearl, he had two sons, Joseph and Charles. 

John Brooks died at New Durham, April 27, 1874, aged 82 
years. 

Mr. John Brooks says that he had one sister named Sarah 
and two named Hannah, but the baptismal record is as above, 
and the town records the same. — Ed. 

The children of Robert Brooks, son of John and grandson of 
Robert. Born to Robert Brooks and Rebecca Hopkinson his 
wife, 

Benjamin, born Sept. 20, 1793. 

Moses and Aaron, born April 9, 1796. 

John, born August 10, 1798. 

Bethiah, born July 10, 1800. 

Sally, born June 27, 1804. 

Nathan, born Dec. 26, 1806. 



APPENDIX. 168 



MERRILL. 

Lieut. Samuel Merrill was born in Salisbury, Mass., Aug. 4, 
1728. lie married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Thomas Brad- 
bury (of whom I made mention in my address), in 1747. 

He was an uncle of John Eaton, who came to this town from 
Salisbury, John's mother being his sister. lie settled at Sal- 
mon Falls on Lot 1 of Range D. See Dennett's map. 

This lot was conveyed to him by his father-in-law, jSTov. 22, 
1753, and here he remained until liis death. His farm, or a 
portion of it, is held by his descendants at this day. He was 
living in this town as early as May 17, 1751. He died Satur- 
day, May 4, 1822. His wife died January 18, 1820, and, it is 
said, in the 93d year of her age. 

He was a prominent man. His name appears often in the 
proprietors' records. 

Charles Coffin, Esq., sa^'s that he was " of a respectable fami- 
ly, was frequently a selectman of the town, and a lieutenant 
at the battle of Bunker's Hill in the company commanded by 
Jeremiah Hill, Esq." 

His name appears in 1748, as a soldier at the Block House 
below Union Falls, then under the command of Capt. Thomas 
Bradbury. He was buried in South Buxton Cemetery at the 
Lower Corner, but his grave is not known. 

The information which here follows in regard to his descend- 
ants is mainly on tlie authority of his great grandson, Mr. 
Ebenezer Wentworth of Portland. 

The cliildren of Lieut. Merrill were : 

Abel, born Juno G, 1748, in Salisbury. 

Humphrey, born June 27, 1750, in Salisbury. 

Jane, born July 12, 1752, in Biddeford (where her grand- 
fither Bradbury then lived), and married Mr. Ebenezer Went- 
Avorth, of Buxton, May 14, 1772. Mr. Wentworth built a two- 



164 APPENDIX. 

Story liouse, facing south, on the site of the liouse now owned 
by his grandson Ebenezer, and there he and his Avife remained 
until they died. He died Feb. G, 1820 ; his wife died July 11, 
1843. 

Samuel, born in Buxton 1754; married Anna Eaton, 1776; 
died in Buxton, 1838. 

Martha, born 1756; married Thomas Redlon, June 24, 1779. 

Elizabeth, born married Joses Ilopkinson, May 8, 

1777; died in Limington. 

William, born 1758; served in the army in the Revolutionary 
war; died in 1779; unmarried. 

Thomas, born died young ; unmarried. 

Mary, born " " 

Sarah, born March 1, 1765 ; married Daniel Bryant, May 23, 
1782. 

John, born Juno 3, 1767. 

Ruth, born 1773; married Isaac Lane, A})ril 6, 1704; died 
March 22, 1799. Mrs. Hannah, widow of the late Ellis B. 
Usher, Esq., is her daughter. 

Abel, the oldest son of Lieut. Merrill, married Elizabeth 
Page, July 1, 1773. He settled at what is now Buxton Centre 
on the farm afterwards owned and occupied by Nathan Elden, 
Esq. On the spot near where Capt. Josei^h Davis now lives, 
he built "an old cellar-kitchen house." His son Thomas lived 
on the same s2:)ot and built the house now owned and occupied 
by Capt. Davis; his flither, Abel, then being old and living 
with him. Abel moved to Turner with his son Thomas where 
he died Dec. 8, 1828. 

The children of Abel and his wife Elizabeth were 

Thomas, born Aug. 19, 1774; married Mary Haskell, Nov. 
22, 1801 ; died in Turner, March 20, 1862. ILul no children. 

Samuel, bora Aug. 29, 1776 ; married Mary Bradbury ; died 
in Biddcford, Aug. 2, 1845. He had two children, Samuel who 
married Mary Hooper, and Elizabotli who married Benjamin 
Mosher, of Gorham. 

Mary, born Oct. 19, 1781; married Zenas Payne, May 26, 
1805 ; died Dec. 25, 1821. Left no children. 



APPENDIX. 1G5 

Ruth, born April 25, 1784; married Dr. Aaron Ayer; Avas 
left a widow with two cliildren. Married 2d, John "NYoodman, 
of Minot. 

Abel, jr., bora May 26, 1785; married Abigail, daughter of 
Nathaniel Hill, June 25, 1809; died Feb. 13, 1859. He had 
four sons, viz.: Nathaniel Hill, Thomas, Jeremiah Hill, and 
Samuel; the last-named was recently governor of Iowa. 
Thomas and Jeremiah also reside in Iowa. He had four daugli- 
ters. 

Harriet, married Washington Haskell ; lives in Auburn. 

Mary, " Lothrop L. Files ; " Gorham. 

]\[artlia, " Moses G, Hill ; " Buxton. 

Eliza, " James Rounds. She died in Buxton, Jan- 

uary, 1872. 

Abel, jr., settled in Turner but moved back to Buxton about 
1840, and married the widow of Daniel Hill. 

HuisiriiREY, the 2d son of the Lieut., married Elizabeth Mc- 
Lucas, Jan. 19, 1775; died Sept. 27, 1828, in Buxton. "Set- 
tled the farm now occupied by his grandson, on the road lead- 
ing from Haines' MeadoAV to Moderation." He and his wife 
joined the church Oct. 27, 1793. She died Dec. 18, 1818. 

His children were : 

Sarah, born Jan. 10, 1776 ; married Isaac Boynton, Oct. 2, 
1800. 

William, born Aug. 29, 1777 ; married Charity Davis ; set- 
tled and died in Brownfield. 

James, born April 13, 1779 ; settled on a part of his father's 
farm; married Martha Crockett, Aug. 3, 1800. She died young 
and his children were by Susan Whitney his second wife. 

Elizabeth, born May 21, 1781 ; married Wra. Wentworth, of 
Brownfield, Jan. 10, 1803. 

Lucy, born May 21, 1781 ; married John Taibox, July 23, 
1815, and her descendants live on the old homestead. 

John, born April 14, 1783; lived on the homestead. No 
children. 

Humphrey, born April 6, 1785; died June 16, 1808. 



166 APPENDIX. 

Hannah, born April 19, 1787 ; mamed Timothy Ayer, April 
9, 1807. Settled in Otisfield. 

Samuel Bradbury, born March 2G, 1789 ; settled and died in 
Cherryfield, Maine ; a physician. 

Joshua, born March 22, 1791; died March 22, 1797. 

Daniel, born Feb. 13, 1797; died July 16, 1816. 

Rath, born Dec. 4, 1800 ; married Dca. Wm. Leavitt. 

Samuel, 3d son of the Lieut., married Anna Eaton Nov. 5, 
1776 ; settled on the homestead of his father at Sahnon Falls, 
and died 1838. His wife died Jan. 30, 1821. 

His children Avere : 

William, born Dec. 10, 1778. 

Elizabeth, born Nov. 6, 1781. 

Samuel, born April 4, 1784. 

Hannah, April 26, 1786. 

John, born Oct. 18, 1791. 

Ruth and Nancy, born April 15, 1794. 

Wilham married Susanna Lane, they had nine children, five 
sons and four daughters. The sons Avere James, William John- 
sou, Daniel, who Avas killed Avhen about four years old, Daniel 
Lane, Avho still lives in Buxton, and Benjamin Jones; the 
daughters Avere Hannah, Nancy, Ruth, and Mary. 

William Merrill, senior, died April 1, 1828. Susanna his wife 
died March 14, 1867. 

Elizabeth, married James Sawyer and lived in Fryeburg, Me. 

Samuel, married Betsey Owen, June 24, 1804. Their chil- 
dren Avere Ann M., Ansel, and Ruth. The second Avife Avas 
Dorcas Woodsum ; their children Avere Almira and Benja- 
min F. 

John, married Priscilla Milliken, of Scarborough, Dec. 22, 
1810 ; had sons Wyman, Joseph, Mulberry M., Bradbury, Ben- 
jamin, and daughters Eunice, Ann, Cordelia, Mary J., and 
Ellen. 

Ruth and Nancy. Ruth married first James Banks ; their 
children Avere Hon. Esreff H. Banks, of Biddeford, Clara, and 
Eliza A.; her second husband Avas AVilliam- Foss, of Buxton, 



APPENDIX. 



167 



by vv'hoin she had one child, James F. Foss, of Chicago, IlL 
She died in 1850, almost instantly, on the road from Saco to 
her house. 

Nancy married Daniel Harmon and lived in Buxton. Their 
children Avcre Samuel and William F. S^^e died very sudden- 
ly and in much the same manner as her sister Ruth, at her 
home in Buxton on the 29th of March, 1854. 

John' Merrill, sixth and youngest son of the Lieut. ; mar- 
ried Rebecca Lane, daughter of Capt. Daniel Lane, Jan. 28, 
1790. Lived at Salmon Falls. 

Children, 

Mary or Polly, born Feb. 25, 1792; married William Owen, 
May 1, 1814; died April 5, 1818, leaving one son, the late 
Daniel M. Owen, of Saco. 

Isaac, born Dec. 19, 1793 ; married Lucy Merritt ; had four 
sons, Charles, John, Albion, and Roscoe G., and three daugh- 
ters, Mary, Rebecca, and Annettcc. He was a prominent man 
in Ilollis and held several offices, was a justice of the peace, 
merchant, and mill-owner. He died in May, 1862, in Buxton. 

Daniel, born Feb. 19, 1799; was drowned in Saco river, May 
26, 1806. 

Mr. John Merrill died in Buxton, June 10, 1849. 

Rebecca, his wife, died in Saco at the residence of her grand- 
son, Daniel M. Owen, November 14, 1863. 



168 APPENDIX. 



a 



BUNNELL. 

BeDJamiu Dunnell was here in 1751. On tlie 2(1 day of June, 
1762, being then of this town he bought Lot 6 of Range A 1st 
Division. In the Bicldeford records arc recorded tlie baptisms 
of three children of Benjamin and Mehitable Dunnell, viz. : 

Joseidi, June 11, 1749. Benjamin, Oct. 7, 1750. Molly, 
baptized at Narraganset No. 1, June 3, 1753. The surname of 
his wife I do not know. lie had a second wife, and in the 
Falmouth records (now Portland) is an intention of marriage 
under date of Nov. 1, 1755, between Benjamin Dunnell of 
Narraganset and Eliz. Hodgdon of Gorham. 

I suppose he settled and died in Buxton, but Avhcro his home 
was I do not know. 

Joseph, his son, is said to have been born Nov. 27, 1749, 
which must be an error, as the record shows that he was bap- 
tized the preceding June. He married x\nna, dauglitcr of Josli- 
ua Woodman, Aug. 10, 1777, and died Sept. 22, 1834. She was 
born January 25, 175G, and died Sept. 9, 1824. He settled on 
the farm now owned by Capt. Peter Hill and lived in a two- 
story house which stood below and eastwardly of C;ipt. IlilFs 
house. Capt. Hill married his granddaughter, so that tlie farm 
is still occupied by his descendants. 

They had seven children : 

Alice, born March 10, 1778; married John Billings, Nov. 17, 
1799 ; married second, Thomas Atkinson, of Hollis. 

Mehitable, born October, 1780 ; married Sand. Sands, jr., 
Aug. 10, 1797. She died October 17, 1848. 

Samuel, born June 4, 1781; married Achsali Hill, Nov. 29, 
1804; died Nov. 30, 1863. 

Joseph, born Sept. 11, 1784; married March 22, 1808, Avidow 
Meliitable Ilanscom, daughter of Maj. Thomas Harmon. 

Anna, born Feb. 2, 1788 ; married Samuel Hill, Nov. 17, 1811 . 

John, born Nov. 10, 1792 ; died Ai)ril 23, 1805. 



ArrENDix. 169 

Betsey, born May 10, 1794 ; married Stephen Hanson, Nov. 
20, 1814. She died March 28, 1870. 

Benjamin, jr., the brother of Josej^h, bouglit of Job Roberts 
on the 12th of October, 1774, Lot 4 of Range C, 2d Division, 
on which he made his farm. He had i)revionsly, on the 10th 
of Xov., 1773, bought of Isaac Appleton, of Ipswich, an acre 
and a half of gronnd on Lot 3, on which he built his house and 
on which he lived until his death. He also owned Lot 25, 
Range B, 2d Division. He was next neighbor to Daniel Ap- 
pleton. He is called junior as late as June 12, 1789, so that his 
father, I suppose, was then living. He married Susanna Davis, 
of Peppcrellborougb, April 25, 177G. 

The two-story house in which lie lived and which he built is 
still standing. From what I have shown above I suppose that 
he and not his father, Benjamin, senior, settled on and cleared 
up this farm. 

Major John D. Hill is probably in error in writing to me 
that his " grandfather Dunnell was born in Buxton near whei'c 
Capt. Appleton lived," for he was baptized in Biddeford in 
1749, when we have reason to believe that there were no in- 
habitants in Buxton. 

Major Hill in a letter to me says: " My grandfather, Joseph 
Dunnell, had one brother, who lived near Capt. Appleton and 
was the one that used to wear short clothes, that we, when 
boys, used to see. He lived on the old Dunnell place. They 
had one sister who married Joseph Rankins, 1777, Oct. 12. 
Her name was Mehitable." 

In saying that Benjamin, jr., "Hved on the old Dunnell 
place" he intimates that his father lived there before him, which 
I doubt, because, from the deeds above mentioned, Bcnj., jr., 
seems to have bought the house-lot in 1773, and the farm-lot 
in 1774, and I have no evidence that Benjamin, senior, ever 
owned any part of the flirm. 

There seem to have been two daughters of Benjamin, senior. 
One, Molly, baptized in 1753, and Mehitable above mentioned. 
If there was but one then the name was changed after bap- 
tism. 



170 APPENDIX. 

Jolin Dunnell was living here in 1761. See Goodwin's Nar- 
raganset, page 181. On the 17th of September, 1763, being 
then of this town, he sold to Samuel ThomiDSon Lot 13 of 
Range D, 2d Division. I learn from a note on one of Dr. Cof- 
fin's sermons that he died by the fall of a tree Feb. 11, 1767. 

I do not know his relationship to Benjamin, senior, and can 
only conjecture that he was a brother. 

John Dunnell and Hannah March, both then being of Bidde- 
ford, were married there April 2, 1752. "Whether this is our 
Buxton John I do not know, nor do I know whether he had 
children. 

Under date of May 30, 1756, Joanna, daughter of John and 
Abigail Dunnell, was baptized in Biddeford. Much more 
can, perhaps, be ascertained in I'egard to the Dunnells by any 
one who will make the necessary investigations. 

Diadema, daughter of widow Abigail Dunnell was baptized 
March 1, 1767, in Buxton. In the records the name now spelled 
Dunnell was often spelt Donald and Donnell. I have the sig- 
nature of "Bcnja Donnell" as constable in 1783. 



APPENDIX. ITI 



tl 

HANCOCK. 

Of William Hancock, Charles Coffin, Esq., says : " Mr. Han- 
cock was from Londonderry, Ireland : lie went first to Ports- 
moutli, NeAV Hampshire, thence to Buxton. He settled on the 
right of the road leading from the Congregational meeting- 
house to Salmon Falls. He was a respectable man ; died in 
the meridian of life, and has left descendants in the toAvn. He 
took the first newspaper that came into town, which was print- 
ed in Portsmouth, N. H." His name often appears in the pro- 
prietors' records. 

In a letter to me dated Dec. 2, 1S70, Capt. Goodwin writes 
as follows: " Some two years since you asked me who William 
Hancock^ mentioned in the records was. * * * WilUam^ 
was a son of William, senior; and Hancock's great and little 
ponds, and Hancock's brook in Hiram, Me., were named in 
honor of his memory. He was a trapper, but disappeared sud- 
denly." =* * * « Search was made for Hancock but he was 
not found. His camp and a spoon were found on the Avest 
side of Great Hancock Pond, but no trace of his body, gun or 
traps." 

William in his will (See Goodwin's Narraganset, page 169) 
speaks of but one son, Isaac. If there was another son he had 
pn'obably died before the date of the will in 1769. 

Isaac lived in Buxton. For some account of him see Good- 
win's Narraganset, page 278. In that account Capt. Goodwin 
says that he was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree or a 
limb. This statement as to the mode of his death is more than 
doubtful. 

The late Mr. Moses Boynton told me that he died from the 
efiect of drinking a large quantity of rum or brandy on a wager. 

iJIy inquiry was in regard to John, mentioned in Goodwin's Narrajanset, page 167, 
and I think that in the letter to me Capt. Goodwin carelessly speaks of William when 
he means John. 



172 ArPENDIX. 

As Mr. Boynton spent his life on the atljoinhig farm, and as tlie 
famiUes of Hancock and Boynton were connected by marriage, 
and as Mr. Boynton knew Mrs. Garhmd (Isaac Hancock's wife) 
from her childhood until her death, his account is probably cor- 
rect. Mr. Tristram Eaton confirms Mr. Boynton's statement. 
I have heard it otherwise confirmed. 

Administration on his estate was granted March 29, 17Gi. 

William Hancock, senior, died in 1769. His farm and that 
of his son Isaac were adjoining, consisting of Lots 1, 2, and 3 
of Range E, 1st Division, Lot 2, being divided between them 
lengthwise through the middle ; the father owning the wester- 
ly and the son the easterly half 

The family burying-ground is on Lot 1, and though now in 
a pasture, graves are still visible, though unmarked. For tlie 
site of the burying-ground see Dennett's map. 

By a deed to William Hancock, dated October 14, 1749, by 
which he bought one full Right, being y^j part of the town, it 
seems that he was then of Haverhill, Mass. 

In another deed dated June 2G, 1750, he is then said to be 
of Narraganset No. 1. 

Isaac bought his home-lot No. 8, Nov. 30, 1752, and in the 
deed he is said to be of Narraganset No. 1. 

Isaac Hancock was a Lieut, in 1755, in the company com- 
manded by Captain John Lane. 

The Hancocks of Buxton are descendants of Isaac. See 
Goodwin's Narraganset, page 278. 

[Tiio following, from York County Probate Records, will 
show how little property in value our ancestors had, though 
then owning good and new firms and classed among the " well 
off."— Ed. 

Narraganset No. 1, November the 13th, 1770. 
We the subscribers have, agreable to a warrant from the 
hon'ble Judge of Probates, appraised all and every part of 
the real, personal, & movable Estate of William Hancock late 
of said Narragansett in the County of York, deceased, that was 
exhibited to us by his executor in the following manner: 



APPENDIX. 173 

20 acres given to Jolm Lane's three sons at 70s. pr acre £70. 0. 
10 acres given to John & Wm. Hancock at 60s. pr acre 30. 0. 
The 12 liome Lot on F given to said John tfc William 13. G. 8 
one Third division given to Mary Boyinton 2G.13. 4 

^.< a second division to John Boyinton Jan. 13. G. 8 

one nndividod Right 1.12. 

3 cows at 53s. 4d. pr cow £3, one two year old heifer 4Ss. 10. 8. 
one yearling ditto 32s., one Bed and Beding £5 6s. 8d. 6.18. 8 
1 chest of Draws 14s. 4d., 1 chest 8s., 1 pine Table 6s. 1. S. 4 
1 horse 4s., 1 bell 6s., 1 old broad-ax 3s., 1 small Do. Is. 14. 
1 old adze 3s., 1 mortising ax 3s., 2 Iron wedges 2s. 9d. 08.9^ 
1 spado Is. 6d., 1 anlgar Is. 6d., 2 Tramels 10s. 8d., 

1 shovel 2s. 8d. IG. 4 

1 frying pan 2s. 8d., 1 old saw broke 8d. 3, 4 

1 pr. broken tongs 8d., 1 pr. handirons 8s. 8. 8 

1 Iron pot 2s., 1 Iron kettle Is. 4d., 1 pr. steelyards 4s. 7. 4 

1 penter Platter 2s., 1 okl baze gown 2s., 1 old coat 12s. 16. 
8 penter plates 6s., 1 pr. old plongh irons 6s. 12. 
7^ wt. of Peuter 4s. 2., 1 Coffee mill 6s., 2 earthern 

platters Is. lOd. 12. 

2 wooden Trays 8d., 1 Bowl 8d., 1 Platter 4d. Is. 8 



Errors excepted, £178.13.9| 

TiioirAS Bradbury, 
Sa:muel JMerrill. 



DUNN. 

Extracts from a letter of Hon. Joshua Dunn, dated April 
17, 1872. 

"My father, Nathaniel Dunn, son of Nathaniel Dunn, was 
born in Gorham near Scarborough line. lie married Elizabeth 
Atkinson [born Nov. 21, 1768], daughter of Deacon Joseph 
Atkinson, of Buxton Gore, near Gorham line. My father soon 



If 4 Ari'ENDIX. 

after marriage bought the farm^ of old Capt. Eldrcdge adjoin- 
ing tlie farm of Mr. Franlc Libby, fatlier of Deacon Joseph 
Libby, my classmate in the town school. My father moved 
out to Salmon Falls on Buxton side and went into trade there. 
The store stood [near and] below the bridge. This was I think 
in ninety-six; brother Moses can inform you better than I can. 
I know I was A'cry small ; sister Sarah a baby when fatlier 
came after us in Dr. Brewster's chaise, and took mother, my- 
self, and Sarah into an old one-story house^ where the Gnppcr 
house now stands, near Samuel Game's. Moses lived vrith Col. 
Lane in the house^ now Simon Davis's. Mrs. Usher's motlier 
Avas then living and used to give me swect-cako. 

"My father moved to Bar Mills on Ilollis side and went into 
milling business witli Joseph Atkinson. This was about 1800, 
for father sent me to the school near the old meeting-house, 
kept by Charles CofSn. I boarded at Mr. Billings'. Soon af- 
ter, I went back to live with my grandfixther Atkinson. In my 
fourteenth year I went to Portland to learn the horse milliner's 
trade. When the war of 1812 broke out I enlisted. Father 
moved down on the Alfred road near Isaiah Brooks''*. There 
my motlier died April, 1804. I then lived at grandfotlier's. 
Father built the mill and house at Union Falls and li^'cd there 
until he purchased the farni^ on which he lived, and where he 
died in 1855, in his 90th year. Tlie house where we were all 
born is not now standing. Father showed mo the old cellar 
many years ago. Our farm ran across the present railroad. 
My mother was buried on the farm you now own, once tlie 
farm of John Woodman, Esq. My grandmother was Olive 
Yf oodraan, sister of your grandfither." 

iQn the 20th of May, 1S72, 1 rode with Mr. Duau to the farm where he was born, 
now owned by Mr. Men-ill a native of Falmouth. He showed to me lot 17 of Range 
D, 3d Division as his father's farm, and pointed out the site of his father's house ns a 
little nortliwestcrly from the south corner of the lot and near the road. 

2The house to which he refers stood a little in the rear of the "Gupper house." 
Capt. John Lane afterwards lived in it and there died. It -was probably built by Eze- 
l:iel Barnes who, in 1794, bouglit of Job Roberts 2 acres, 3 roods, and 3 rods in the X. 
W. corner of Lot 25, Range C, 1st Division, where this house stood. 

"In this house, Col. Lane's daughter Hannah, now Jlrs. Usher, was born. 

^In Ilollis. 



APPENDIX. 175 



BOYNTON. 

I find tlie following memorandum among the papers of tlio 
late Joshua Coffin, of iSTewburyport, 

"William and John Boynton came to Rowley, Mass., with 
Rev. Ezekiel Rogers from Rowley, Yorkshire, England. 

"William was a tailor; was born in the year 1606, and wdth 
his wife Elizabeth lived in Rowley till 1657. He then bought 
land in Newbury of Dr. John Clark. lie was in Ipswich in 
1667, and in Rowley in 1684, and died in Ipswich Dec. 8, 1686, 
aged 80." 

There was a John Boynton born July 30, 1729, who perhaps, 
was the same John the Blacksmith, who went from Haver- 
hill to iSTarraganset No. 1. 

J'l'om Goodwin's Narraganset, jx 167, it would seem that 
John Boynton was here as early as March 29, 1754, and he 
probably was here at that time, for he bought real estate here 
in 1749, 1750, and 1752, but on the 3d of June, 1756, being then 
of Haverhill, blacksmith, he bought Lot 4 of Range E in the 
1st Division, on which he settled. In 1758 his name again ap- 
pears on the proprietors' records, and he was probably living 
here at that time. 

In 1767, he conveyed to William Boynton Lot 11 of Range 
D, 2d Division, on which lot Wra. Boynton settled and built 
the house which is now standing. What relation John was to 
William I do not know but probably his father. William 
married Mary McLucas Oct. 2, 1766. On the 13th of Decem- 
ber, 1768, John conveyed to Samuel Hovey of Cape Elizabeth, 
housewright, a piece six rods square out of the northwest cor- 
ner of his home lot. It is reasonable to suppose that Mr. 
Hovey bought this small piece for a house-lot. It was where 
the Chase house^ now stands at the Lower Corner. John Boyn- 
ton was living in Haverhill in 1749. 

iThe rear part of the Chase house was, perhaps, built, at any rate was occupied by- 
John Muchemore, who wove coverlids. Dr. Brewster also occupied the game house 
before he built his house. 



176 



APPENDIX. 



He died probably in 1777/^ as administration on his estate 
v/as granted in October of that year to his wife Mary. Wra. 
Boynton lives nov/ on the same lot that John bouglit in 175G. 
This homestead has been, as far as I know, uninterruptedly 
in the Boynton family from that day to this. His descendants, 
doubtless, can be easily traced by any one who may be inter- 
ested to do it. 

His wife was the daughter of William Hancock. From the 
same will it seems that John Boynton had a son John. He 
lived on the homestead. For Hancock's will see Goodwin's 
Narraganset, page 169. 

Daniel Boynton was here as early as April 22, 1767. What 
relation he was to John the first settler I do not know. His 
name, as also that of the first settler, may be found in the 
proprietors' records. 

John Boynton, jr., married Hannah Ehvell, of Peppercll- 
borough, July 18, 1771. 

Hannah Boynton married Samuel Hasaltine, Feb. 18, 1768. 
He probably died in 1776, and his widow married Capt. John 
Lane, Sept. 21, 1777. 

Wm, Boynton, jr., and Betty Whitney, of Standish, were 
published Nov. 10, 1792. 

Isaac Boynton and Sarah Merrill were married Oct. 2, 1800. 

John Boynton and Hannah Mason, married March 25, 1801. 

Moses Boynton and Ruth Elden, married March 24, 1803. 

James Boynton and Susanna Grant, published Feb. 18, 1804. 

Samuel Boynton and Phebe Blake, published March 10, 
1804. The editor adds what follows in regard to this family. 

John Boynton, blacksmith, from Haverhill, by his wife, Mary 
Hancock, had four sons and two daughters, viz. : 

Daniel, born married Hannah Babb, July 11, 1793. 

Isaac, born who was drowned. 

William, born married Mary McLucas, Oct. 2, 1766. 

John, jr. (father of William of Buxton), born mar- 

ried first Hannah Elwell, of Pepperellborough, July 18, 1775. 

*IIe died in Uie army, in a barn nsed as a bareack by the soldiers. Elisha Andrews, 
of Buxton, watched by liim the night he died.— Ed. 



APPENDIX. 177 

Hannah married Saml. Hasletine, Feb. 18, 1768, and after- 
ward Capt. John Lane. 

Mary never married. 

The children of Daniel I know nothing about. His name is 
not on the town records of Buxton. 

Isaac i^robably never married. 

The children of William were : 

William, jr., born Dec. 18, 1766. 

Hannah, born Feb. 15, 1769, married Daniel Leavitt, Auo- 
23, 1792. 

Daniel, born March 12, 1771, married Mary Moor of Buxton, 
Dec. 6, 1792. 

Isaac, born June 5, 1773. 

Mar}^, born July 5, 1775. 

Moses, born Feb. 6, 1778. 

Samuel, born July 27, 1780. 

Jane, born August 3, 1785. 

The children of John by his first wife, Hannah Elwell, were : 

James, born Oct. 14, 1771. 

Mary, born Feb. 17, 1773. 

John, jr., born March 18, 1778. 

Hannah, born May 6, 1781. 

Daniel, born March 31, 1783. 

Moses, born July 12, 1785. 

By his second wife, Hannah Mason, he had : 

William, born, Aug. 31, 1801. 

Eliza, born Nov. 15, 1803. 

L 



178 APPENDIX. 



K 

DURELL, MARTIN, ROLFE, WILSON. 

These names are signed to the call for a meeting of the pro- 
prietors, dated Aug. 3, 1752. Whether there are descendants 
of either of them ia town I do not know. 

Nathaniel Diirell and John Martin were here in March, 
1743-4 See Goodwin's Narraganset, page 142, Benjamin Dur- 
ell was here in 1752. In 1753, administration was granted to 
him on the estate of Moses Durell,^ of Biddeford. He was of 
Biddeford in 1749. 

David Martin was here in 1752. He owned and lived on 
Lot 2, Range B., 1st Division, and the road to Hopkinson's 
from this lot passed over what is known as Martin's gully, to 
this day. The road was closed a few years since. The birth 
of a son and daughter may be found recorded in the proprie- 
tors' records. See Goodwin's Narraganset, page 224, David 
Martin, probably this David, married Hannah Pennell, April 
12, 1748, both of them then being of Biddeford. 

Mr. Dennett says : " We have Martin's brook, Martin's gully, 
Martin road, and Martin's swamp. He lived at one time 
where I have him on the map as I have been informed by ray 
mother and the Hopkinson family." I mention Martin again 
under the name Brooks in this Appendix, 

Sam'l Rolfe, He was the first owner, resident here, of any 
part of Lot 25, Range C, 1st Division. He bought one-half of 
it June 29, 1757, and sold it the next month to Job Roberts 
who owned the greater part of it for years. In 1757, he bought 
Lot 8, Range D, 1st Division, together with a house which was 



'At the bottom of page 97, of Goodwin's Narraganset is the name Moses Duress. It 
doubtless should be Durell, although it is in the original as printed in the book. 



APPENDIX. 



179 



on sciid lot but had been removed from it. He was living in 
this town as early as July 23, 1751. 

He is said to have been the first town pauper. He lived for 
a time on an island in Saco river, near Mr. Tristram Eaton's, 
and now known as Kolfe's Island. 

Mr. Tristram Eaton thinks that he died at the house of Dea- 
con Thomas Bradbury, where Mr. Rufus Emery now lives. 

AVhether he had children I do not know. Mr. Tristram 
Eaton told me that a Mr. Samuel (John ?) Rolfe lived close by 
Leavitt's mills, on the northeasterly side, and that John Davis 
afterwards lived in Rolfe's house, and that Rolfe moved further 
towards Gorham. By Dennett's map it seems that John Rolfe 
lived on Lot B, Range C, 3d Division. In 1795, he sold Lot 8, 
Range A, 3d Division, and some adjacent pieces to Nathaniel 
Hill. 

I have a receipt which reads as follows : 

"Rec'd Buxton 18th April 1785, from Jno. Woodman one 
pound Lawfull Money for the Conditions of a Lease of a Cow 
& her Encrease Given in favor of Jere'h Rolf for soldiering in 
y'e Cotinental Army I say Rec'd pr me John Roffe." 

Nov. 3, 1776, Rev. Paul Coffin baptized Samuel, son of John 
Rolfe, and Joanna his wife, " members of the first church in 
Falmouth." 

Oct. 20, 1781, he baptized their son Enoch. In a deposition 
dated June 22, 1793, Samuel Rolfe calls himself 74 years of 
age. In the same deposition Stackpole's brook is mentioned. 

Wilson. Charles Coffin, Esq., says that John Wilson settled 
on the Beech Plain road near whore Jacob Bradbury, Esq., 
afterwards lived. He probably died in 1753, as administration 
was granted in that year to his wife Elizabeth, who after his 
death married Coolbroth, 

I find no deed to or from him. His name appears in the 
proprietors' records under date of August 3, 1752. 



180 APPENDIX. 



ROBERTS. 

On the 20th of November, 1738, Robert Brooks, then of 
Buldeforcl, bought one whole Right in this town, which Right 
included Lot 24, Range C, 1st Division. This Right, including 
said Lot, he conveyed to his step-son, Job Roberts, then of Bid- 
deford (Saco) by deed dated June 26, 1741. On the 10th of 
Janunry 1750-51 Job Roberts, being then of this town, bought 
one whole Right, including Lot 7, on said Range C. This lot 
7 he sold in 1764 to Sarah Brooks, spinster. Roberts doubtless 
settled here in 1750. 

In the Biddeford church records is recorded the marriage of 
Jacob Roberts and Sarah Tarbox, July 25, 1745. As Job's wife's 
name was Sarah, the name Jacob in the Records may, perhaps, 
be an error for Job. 

On the 12th day of April, 1805, Mr. Roberts made an affida- 
vit as follows : 

"I, Job Roberts of eighty-five years of age, testify and say 
that I have resided in the toAvn of Buxton fifty-five years, and 
that I have known Saco river from Pleasant Point in said Bux- 
ton to be used and improved by the Inhabitants for the pur- 
pose of rafting down lumber of various kinds, such as shingles, 
clapboards, small masts, Logs, &c., for sixty years past, and that 
for more than forty years past, the said Inhabitants has im- 
proved the said River as above mentioned for tlie purpose of 
rafting the boards that have been sawed by them: That any 
obstructions in the said River that would prevent the Inhabi- 
tants rafting and candying down their lumber, boards in par- 
ticular, will operate as a great damage to the owners of lum- 
ber. 



APPENDIX. 181 

" How long since you have known boards to Lave been sawed 
at Salmon Falls in Buxton to be rafted down River ? 

" Answer by Deponent. Thirty-three years." 

This deposition was taken on account of the building of a 
dam and mill at Union Falls by Nath'l. Dunn and others. 

I have his signature under date of May 8, 1793. 

Job and Sarah his wife had children, baptized as follows: 

1747, April 12, Abigail, died young, as there was a second 
one of this name. 

1749, June 18, Sarah. 

1751, September 15, Elizabeth; married Nathan Elden, May 
12, 1772. 

1754, October 20, Mary; married Ezekiel Bragdoji, May 11, 
1780. 

1764, June 3, Abigail, never married. 

He had a son Joseph who married Lydia Burnham, Nov. 8, 
1781, and lived in Hollis, as did Bragdon. He had a daughter 
Susanna who married Abiathar Woodsum, July 8, 1784. 

John Hearn, son of Abigail, born May 14, 1797. 



IM 



FORT. 



Tradition does not point to any other places in town as the 
sites of forts or garrisons except those which I have mentioned. 
It will be noticed, however, that in the petition of March 29, 
1754* it is said that "the Province fort is very ill Convenient 



•Historical Address, page 47. 



182 APPENDIX. 

for the Settlers on the north easterly Side of raartains Swamp," 
and that the fort or garrison which Mr. Hancock was to build 
under the vote of May 29, 1754, was " to be Sett where the 
inhabitants living on the northerly Side of the Swamp shall 
see cause to Set the Same." This " swamp " and " martains 
Swanij:) " must be I think the low land towards and about the 
head of Stackpolc brook, which divided the settlers at Salmon 
Falls and Pleasant Point, from those at Beech Plain and those 
living not far from what was afterwards and is now known as 
the Lower Corner. As the site of the fort was to be left to 
the inhabitants on the northerly side of the swamp, it seems 
singular that they should fix it at Pleasant Point, which would 
be still more " ill convenient " for them than the former site. 

The spot indicated by "the Broad Turn so called" is not 
known, and consequently docs not help us to fix the site. In 
his will, printed in Goodwin's Narraganset, Mr. William Han- 
cock speaks of his "Flanker House," and it is possible that the 
fort or garrison which he agreed to built was situated near or 
adjoining his house instead of at Pleasant Point. If so, there 
Avere three forts or garrisons ; for I hold the testimony of 
Charles Coffin, Esq., and of Mr. John Elden to be conclusive 
in regard to the existence of a fort or ganison at Pleasant 
Point. 

In 1750 the settlers petitioned for a removal of the Province 
fort (see Goodwin's Narraganset, page 152), and it is probable 
that the Province fort on Lot 2 of Range D was abandoned, 
and a new one built "annexed to the house of Capt. Joseph 
Woodman" on Lot 11 of Range B. 

But this would scarcely be of any service to the settlers on 
the northerly side of what I suppose was called Martin's 
swamp. It is reasonable to suppose that these settlers had a 
fort for their protection on their own side of the swamp; and 
if so, it was probably adjoining the house of Mr. William Han- 
cock. There is, however, nothing certainly known as to the 
site of the lort, which was doubtless built by Mr. Hancock 
under the vote of May 29, 1754. 



APPEOTDIX. 183 



N 



ATKINSON. 

Humphrey Atkinson was the first settler of that name in 
this town. His homestead was on Lot 1 of Range A in the 
1st Division, Avhich has remained the property of his descend- 
ants to tlie 211'esent day. 

He was a shipwright and came from Newbury, Mass. He 
bought one full right in the town, including said Lot 1, being 
jl^ part, by deeds dated January 26, 1757, and June 4, 1760. 

He did not move here until 1760, or soon after, as his son 
Theodore, born June 2, 1760, was, I suppose, born in Newbury, 
and at the last-named date he is stated in the deed to be of 
Newbury. He was here in October, 1761. 

He was a descendant of John^ Atkinson of Newbury, Mass., 
who was a son of Theodore Atkinson, of Bury, in Lancashire, 
England. John^ was born in Boston in 1636, and married Sara 
Myrick, April 27, 1664. 

He lived on the southwesterly side of the "Upper Green," 
on the spot occupied by Stephen W. Little in 1852, in New- 
bury port. 

He had a son : 

Johnj^who married Sarah Woodman in 1693, and was the fa- 
ther of 

Thomas,^ who Avas born March 16, 1694, and married Mary 
Pike, of Salisbury, Aug. 5, 1719. He was the father of 

Humphrey,* who settled in Buxton, and who was born June 
12, 1720. He married Sarah Hale May 25, 1743. 

They had children born in Newbury as follows : 

Sarah, born June 25, 1744; died July, 1744. 

Joseph, born Aug. 24, 1745, as recorded in the town records, 



184 APPENDIX. 

or according to the statement of his grandson Charles, he was 
born Oct. 6, 1745. 

Moses, born Nov. 17, 1747; married Rebecca "Woodman, 
of Buxton, Sept. 13, 1770. 
Thomas, born Dec. 21, 1749. 

Eunice, born Nov. 16, 1757 ; married Samuel Woodsum, 
May 28, 1783. 

Theodore, born June 2, 1760 ; married Polly French, Nov. 
23, 1786. 

Mr. Dennett says : " Humphrey Atkinson had six boys, 
Thomas, John, and Theodore [and Joseph] settled hero as I 
have them on the map. Humphrey did not marry but lived 
with his brother John. John moved to Eaton, N. H., in 1814. 
There he and Humphrey died. They had three sisters. 
"Mary, married Abiathar Woodsum. 
" Eunice, married Dea. Samuel Woodsum, of Saco. 
" Sarah, married Jabez Bradbury." 

Mary was the first wife of Abiathar Woodsum. For his 
second wife he married Susanna Roberts, July 8, 1784. 

Mr. Humphrey Atkinson probably died in 1775, as administra- 
tion was granted on his estate in that year to his son Thomas. 
He and his wife were buried at Pleasant Point. 

On the 27th of July, 1769, he conveyed to his son Joseph, 
forty acres of Lot 2 of Range C, 3d Division, it being forty 
acres to be taken off from the northwest side of said lot in an 
equal width thereof from the northeast end to the southwest 
end. 

On the 13th of December, 1770, he conveyed "forty acres to 
his son Moses, it being the other half of said lot. He bought 
the adjacent Lot 1 Nov. 22, 1770, and in 1771, he conveyed 
sixty acres thereof from the southeast side to his sou Thomas ; 
the said sixty acres " to run lengthways North East and South 
West." The remainder of said Lot 1, it being twenty acres, 
he conveyed, Dec. 10, 1773, to Abiathar Woodsum, avIio con- 
veyed it in 1777 to the said Moses Atkinson. Thus these two 
lots Avere owned by the three brothers; Joseph owning the 
westerly forty acres of Lot 2, Moses the easterly forty acres of 



APPENDIX. 



185 



that lot and the westerly twenty of Lot 1, and Thomas the 
easterly sixty acres of Lot 1. Thomas sold his forty acres 
March 21, 1777, to John Haines, of Scarborough. To whom 
Moses conveyed I do not know; probably to Pelatiah Harmon. 

Joseph, son of Humphrey, settled on said Lot 2, and there 
remained until his death. If Moses and Thomas ever settled 
on the lands so given them by their father, they remained there 
but a short time. 

Joseph married Olive, daughter of Capt. Joseph Woodman, 
Dec. 18, 1767. He was a deacon of the Baptist church. The 
farm descended to his son John, and from him to his son 
Charles, who sold it a few years since. Deacon Joseph died, 
Feb. 18, 1823, aged 77, and his son John Dec. 22, 1857. Olive 
wife of Joseph, died Jan. 26, 1828, and Pauline, wife of John, 
March 24, 1855. Charles now lives in Gorham and has two 
children. 

The children of Joseph and Olive were : 

Elizabeth, born Nov. 21, 1768. 

Sarah, born Jan. 26, 1771. 

Mary, born Jan. 29, 1773. 

Abigail, born Feb. 22, 1775. 

Anne, born Aug. 14, 1777. 

John, born July 26, 1779. 

Samuel, born Dec. 23, 1781. 

Moses, born April 9, 1784. 

Susannah, born April 20, 1786. 

Joseph and Moses married sisters. There is a tradition that 
they swapped sweethearts after they were engaged, the one 
paying to the other a certain quantity of shingles as boot ! 

Moses, son of Humphrey, married Rebecca Woodman, Sept. 
13, 1770. He resided at one time near the meeting-house. He 
sold out his land there in 1784, to Elisha Andrews. The Avell 
where he and Mr. Andrews and afterwards Capt. John Lane 
lived for a time, in the rear of Spofford's blacksmith shoj^, is 
still in use. 

Moses probably moved to Hollis at or about this time. He 
does not appear to have been a resident of Buxton in 1798. 



186 APPENDIX. 

His children were : 

Joseph, married Anna Lane in 1790. 

Moses, " Betsey Woodman, August 14, 1794. 

Thomas, " 1st Bethia Hopkinson, Nov. 14, 1797 ; 2d, 
widow Alice Billings, March 6, 1808. 

James, married Polly Barnes, daughter of Ezekiel Barnes. 

Anna, " Elihu Howard, Jan. 4, 1801. 

Olive, " Samuel Hodgdon. 

Polly, » JosesPalmer, June 19, 1799. 

Col. Isaac Lane, who commanded a regiment in the Avar of 
1812, Avas a nej^hcAV, by marriage, of Moses Atkinson. Col. 
Daniel Lane, who Avas a major in the same regiment, and a 
brother of Col. Isaac, gives me the following account of the 
death of their uncle Moses : 

" Lieut. Atkinson left his home at the Bar Mills in 1813, un- 
beknown to his family, and Avorked his way along till he found 
my brother Isaac and myself Avith our regiment, about half 
way betAveen Plattsburg and the river St. Lawrence. He 
Avanted us to let him have a gun and equipments to go into the 
ranks of one of the companies, but we told him he was too old 
to stand the fatigue of marching and keeping up Avith young 
soldiers. But as he insisted upon it my brother named it to the 
Commanding General and told him all the circumstances. The 
general said, indulge him, let him have a gun, etc., but look 
after and take care of him. He soon ejot tired of marchins: 
about Avith the soldiers and Ave kept him as near us as avc 
could. 

"In November, 1813, the army started for Avinter quarters at 
Plattsburg, and avc encamped one night soracAvhere about half 
Avay betAveen the St. LaAvrence and Plattsburg in a piece of 
Avoods near the main road. My brotlier and I liad a large tent 
that answered for both of us. After pitching our tent Ave laid 
down, Avith a fire toAvards our feet. I lay in tlic middle between 
brother and Lieut. Atkinson. We saAV that he Avas covered up 
Avith blankets and Avhatever we could spare. 

" Some time in the night I Avaked up and stirred the fire. I 
then turned to Lieut. Atkinson and saw that he lay just as he 



APPENDIX. 187 

did when he first laid down. I tlien spoke to him but got no 
answer. I then took hold of him and sliook him and then 
found he was stiff and cold. I spoke to my brother and told 
him I believed Uncle Atkinson Avas dead, and yve found it 
Avas so. The conclusion was that he never moved after he 
laid down, and died without a struggle. We procured some 
rough boards and had a coffin made and a deep grave dug in 
the woods, some distance from the road, and there had him 
buried, and some stones put to the head and foot." 

Thomas Atkinson, son of Ilumi^hrey, married Anna SafFord, 
Sept. 12, 1782. 

Their children were : 

Molly, born July 12, 178-i. 

Stephen, born Sept. 7, 1786. 

Amos, born Nov. 23, 1788. 

Enoch, born July 14, 1791. 

Sarah, born June 22, 1793. ] These three sisters were liv- 

Susanna, born July 22, 1795. Ving on the homestead in Jan- 
Eunice, born March 4, 1798. J uary, 1878. 

John, born March 31, 1800. 

Humphrey, born Oct. 21, 1802. 

Nancy, born March 28, 1805. 

On the 24th of September, 1787, by a deed not yet recorded, 
he bought of Capt. Jabez Lane and Capt. Joseph Woodman, jr., 
Lot 2, adjoining the Lot 1 on which his father settled, and in 
the same year he bought 40 acres of Capt. Lane in the " seven 
hundred acres" adjoining said Lot 1, on the easterly side 
thereof This deed is also unrecorded. 

Died Sept. 23, 1833, aged 84. 

John Atkinson, son of Humphrey, married Olive Haley, Nov. 
1, 1792 ; moved to Eaton, N. H., in 1814 and there died. 

Sarah Atkinson, married Jabez Bradbury, May 19, 1774. 
Humphrey Atkinson, jr., lived with his brother John and died 
in Eaton, N. H. 

Theodore Atkinson and John Atkinson settled near the Saco 
lino, on the "seven hundred acres." See Dennett's map. 



188 APPENDIX. 

Theodore bouglit his laud there in 1786, and probably settled 
there about that time. 

Mr. Dauiel Dennett in a letter to me, dated January 2, 18G8, 
says: " Humphrey Atkinson built first on or near the lino of 
Lot 1, Letter A, and the northwest line of the 700 acres. 

There are three of his grandchildren, all maidens [daughters 
of Thomas], living on the home lot ; the oldest 75, next 73, the 
youngest 70. They have a barn standing on the old house lot. 
Humj^hrey and wife were buried at Pleasant Point. The grand 
children say they know it to be so." 

In another letter, dated Oct. 13, 1867, he says : "Humphrey 
Atkinson being one of the first settlers, I will give you the 
names of his children and where they settled. 

"Joseph settled on [near] the Gore. His son John lived on 
the old place, and John's son Charles lives there now. 

" Moses settled in Hollis. 

"Theodore on the south end of the 700 acres on Saco river. 
John on a lot adjoining. 

"Humphrey was a bachelor [baptized Sept. 8, 1765]. 

" Molly married Abiathar Woodsum ; lived on the 8 rod 
road. [See Dennett's map, 1870.] 

" Eunice married Samuel Woodsum and lived in Saco. Sarah 
married Jabez Bradbury ; settled near Buxton Centre. 

" Thomas (I ought to have named next to Moses) lived on 
the homestead. He died instantly in a store at Union Falls, 
and two of his sons have died the same of late." 

In a letter dated Jan. 12, 1873, Mr. Dennett says : "I cannot 
tell you how many of Humphrey Atkinson's children were born 
in Buxton. They have no old family record, but the old 
women now living, say that their father, Thomas Atkinson, was 
thirteen years old when they moved into Buxton. From this 
statement it appears that Humphrey m oved into Buxton in 
1762." 



APPENDIX. 189 



O 

LEAVIT. 

On the 24th of Nov., 1752, Joseph Leavit, of York, tanner, 
bought three full shares or rights in the new township, Narra- 
ganset, No. 1, being y§^ of the whole town. 

I suppose that he was at no time a resident here. 

He was one of the three persons who built the mills in 1761, 
on Little River, as stated in my address. He had three sons 
who settled in Buxton, Samuel, Daniel, and Joseph. 

Mr. Daniel Dennett, in letters to me, says : " My great 
grandfather, Joseph Leavitt, of York, came to Buxton in 1751, 
and purchased three lots for his sons. Joseph he settled on 
Little River ; Daniel on Beech Plain, and Samuel, my grand- 
fiither, near Union Falls. Samuel married Sarah Phinney, 
daughter of Capt. John Phinney, the first settler of Gorham. 

« She died April, 1793, aged 59 years. 

" Samuel died, 1797, aged 65 years." 

" Samuel Leavit and wife were buried on the river side of a 
small pine tree at Pleasant Point. This I have from tlie 
recollection of my mother." 

October 6, 1793, he married a second wife, Hannah Dearing, 
of Popperrellborough. 

In 1756, Samuel, son of Joseph, of York, then of this town, 
bought lots 7 and 8 of Range A, 1st Division, and there 
settled. Li 1766, he bought of a committee of the proprietors 
twenty-five acres, "more or less," adjacent to the Northwest 
side of said lot 8. 

Joseph Leavit, the father, died before March 28, 1768, for on 
that day Samuel and Daniel Leavit, of Narraganset N"o. 1, 
Jeremiah Leavit, of York, John No well and Thomas Nowell, 



190 APPENDIX. 

of York, and tlicir wives, Elizabeth and Sarah (who wei*e 
daughters of Joseph), conveyed to Joseph Leavit, of Narra- 
gansett No. 1, "six seventh parts of one fourth part of a certain 
grist mill in said Narragansett which was our father's Joseph 
Leavit, late of York dec''- with y* appurtenances & y^ land to 
y* said quarter of y* same mill which lys on the Eastern side of 
the Mill Brook, & is suj^posed to contain two acres & an 
half." 

In 1791, Samuel sold to his brother Joseph " all my right 
in the two saw-mills in Buxton, commonly called Leavit's 
mills." In the same year he sold to John Leavit, his son, one- 
half of his homestead and of the buildings thereon. 

By his wife, Sarah, he had four children. 

Elizabeth, baptized Nov. 4, 1764, married Wm. Hancock, 
Aug. 22, 1782. 

John, baptized May 3, 17G7 ; married Molly Dolloff, Jan. 12, 
1792. He moved from the old homestead to Hollis, and from 
there to Eaton. N. H., where he died. 

Sarah, baptized Sept. 17, 1769; married Phineas Towle, Nov. 
8, 1778. He died Sept. 12, 1819. She died April 27, 1826. 

Mary, born July 14, 1769; married Clement Dennett, Jan. 3, 
1793. 

Daniel Leavit, son of Joseph, of York, in 1766 bought Lot 
8, on Letter E, 1st Division, on which lot he settled. 

He bought of John Nason, Lot 8, of Range D, 1st Division. 
The deed is dated in 1745. Acknowledged, 1765. In 1777 he 
bought Lot 9, Range D, in the same Division. He sold the 
Southwesterly end of Lots 8 and 9 aforesaid in 1788, to Joshua 
Kimball, it being one-fourth of said lots, and on the same day 
bought of Kimball one-fourth of the adjacent lots 10 and 11, 
from the Northwesterly end thereof. 

He was a tanner. Was a deacon of the Congregational 
church for 48 years. Died June 21, 1829, aged 92 years and 2 
months, which makes his birth to have been in 1737. 

He married Abigail Bradbury, May 5, 1763. They had a 
child, Abigail, baptized May 6, 1764. She probably died 
young, as there was a second Abigail. 



APPENDIX. 191 

Pie married Oct. 29, 1765, Abigail Dennett, of Pepperrell- 
borough, daughter of Samuel Dennett. 

I learn from tradition that Deacon Leavit had two wives, 
and I know of no other Daniel Leavit tlien living here. 

Their children were : 

Daniel, jr., bajnized May 24, 1767; married Hannah Boynton, 
Aug. 23, 1792. 

Daniel, jr., probably died in 1809, as the inventory of his 
estate is dated in that year. Therein he is said to be "late of 
Browufield." 

The real estate is inventoried as follows : 

" The Iiomestead farm of said deceased laying & being in 
the town of Buxton, with the buildings thereon, containing 
seven acres (now improved by and in the possession of Henry 
Harmon), amounting in the whole to 8260." Plis father makes 
mention in his will of children of Daniel. 

Abigail, baptized Oct. 29, 1769; married Moses Woodman, 
Dec. 8, 1791. 

Bethia, baptized April 19, 1772 ; married Zachariah Usher, 
Jan. 29, 1793. 

Sarah, baptized Marcli 13,1774; married Joshua Kimball, 
jr., 3d, July 7, 1793. 

Elizabeth, baptized June 30, 1776; married John Ewing, 
March 16, 1794, and afterwards married Gilpatrick. 

Hannah, baptized Sept. 25, 1778. By his will dated Dec. 
18, 1816, her father gives her $50. 

Phebe, baptized June 24, 1781. Died young, as there was a 
second Phebe. 

Olive, baptized Oct. 3,1784; married Michael Shute, Julv 14, 
1805. 

Samuel, baptized July 8, 1787. 

Phebe, baptized Sept. 12, 1790 ; married Simon Woodman, 
who was the executor of her father's will. 

Joseph Leavit, son of Joseph, of York, in 1766, bought 
Lot 8, Range B, 8d Division, and in 1779 bought the adjoin- 
ing Lot 9, and in 1772 the adjoining Lot 7. 

He lived at Leavit's Mills on Little River. 



192 APPENDIX. 

He died April 4, 1809, in the TOtli year of his age. His first 
wife died in 1774. 

He bought f of I of the grist mill in 1768, as above stated, 
and probably owned a larger interest. 

I have his signature under date of June 22, 1786. 

He married Sarah Bradbury, Nov. 10, 1763, and by her he had 

Sarah, born April 8, 1764 ; married Daniel Hill. 

Joseph, bom Sept. 12, 1765. 

Thomas, born Jan. 14, 1767 ; married Martha Bradbury, of 
Buxton, Sept. 2, 1790. Died in Standish. Children — Jacob, 
born Jan. 16, 1791. Mary, born Oct. 27, 1793, married 
Enoch Boothby. Sarah, born Nov. 30, 1795, married Peter 
Payne, and died May 14, 1819. Eliza H., born Aug. 7, 
1796. Catherine, born Sept. 11, 1798, married Joseph 
White, and died Dec. 11, 1822. Samuel, born Aug. 15, 1801. 
Joseph, born Oct. 29, 1803. Thomas, born Dec. 10, 1805. 
Martha, born Jan, 31, 1807. Lucy, born May 19, 1809, died 
Aug. 21, 1820. Stedman, born July 31, 1811, died Sept. 2, 
1813. 

William, born June 16,1768; married in 1795 Mary Cobb, of 
Gorham, died June 11, 1848. She died Aug. 15, 1850. 
Children— Hannah, born Sept. 17, 1797. William, born March 
23, 1800. Benjamin, born Sept. 14, 1802. Aaron, born Aug. 25, 
1804. Nancy, born July 23, 1807, died Nov. 4, 1851. 

Samuel, born March 18, 1770; married, 1st, Hannah Garland, 
Jan. 24, 1793 ; 2d, widow Mary Ayer, in 1803. Children by 
first wife, John, born March 20, 1792. Joseph, born Feb. 15, 
1795. William, born May 27, 1797. By second wife, Eliza- 
beth, born Dec. 3, 1804; married Henry Dunnell. Jane, married 
John S. Dunnell. Alvah. 

Betsey, born Jan. 25, 1772. 

Benjamin, born Nov. 25, 1774; married Susanna Bradbury, 
Jan. 29, 1795. Children — John, Susanna, Martha, Lucinda, 
Melinda, Sarah, Monroe. 

By second wife : 

Anna, born Sept. 8, 1777, married Isaac Scamman, of Saco, 
in 1795. 



APPENDIX. 193 

Bradbury, born Oct. 7, 1779 ; married Nancy or Ann, daugli- 
ter of Daniel Paul, of Gorhani, in 1806; died in Buxton, Dec. 
23, 1824. Cbildren— Daniel, born Feb. 5, 1808. ¥/illiam, born 
Jan. 30, 1811 ; died Aug. 6, 1844. Albert, born April 27, 1813, 
died . Henry, born Aug. 1816, died Aug. 22, 1825. 

James, born March 16, 1820, died Sept. 4, 1825. 

True, tvt'in of Bradbury ; married widow Wales, of Bridgton ; 
died 1826, in Bridgton. 

Mr. Daniel Leavit says tbat the house in which he now lives 
was built by his father, Bradbury Leavit, and his twiu brother 
True, but the big chimney that stood in the middle, has, I see, 
disappeared. 



P 

HILL. 



The Hills, "rock-ribbed aud ancient as the sun," have from 
the first formed a large and very respectable part of the citizens 
of Buxton. The pioneer settler in this town was Nathaniel 
Hill, son of Jeremiah, of Biddeford, whose father was Eben- 
ezer Hill, son of Roger, son of Peter Hill. Peter Hill, a 
planter, w\as a member of the Assembly of Liconia, or Ligonia, 
in 1648. He probably settled iu Biddeford, near the mouth of 
the Saco river, a few years previous to this date, with his son 
Roger, who was admitted a freeman in 1653. New Hampshire 
having sought admission into Massachusetts, was soon followed 
by these settlers of York County, who had become weaiy of 
the government of Thomas Gorges, and among them was Peter 
Hill, who applied for admission in 1652. He died in 1667.-^ 

Roger, son of Peter, married Sarah Cross, of Wells, and 
died in 1696. His children were Sarah, Hannah, John, Samuel, 
Joseph, Mercy, Benjamin, and Ebenezer. 

Ebenezer, son of Roger, was prisoner with his wife Abiel, in 

1 This is an extract from an article by Dr. Usher Parsons, on the Descendants of 
Peter Hill, of York County, Me., in the Xew England Historical and Genealogical 
Eegister, vol. 12, p. 139. 
M 



194 



APPENDIX. 



Canada, in 1704-5, having been taken by the Indians, from 
Biddeford, it is said, where he lived, near the head of "ferry- 
lane." 

They were in Canada three years. 

He died in 1748, aged 69 years. 

He held many toAvn and parish oftlees, and was deacon of 
the church. 

His children were Ebenezer, Dorothy, Susanna, Benjamin, 
Lydia, Joshua, and Jeremiah. 

His son Ebenezer was born in Canada, or while his parents 
were on the journey, and hence was familiarly called the 
" Frenchman." 

Jeremiah, son of Ebenezer, married Aug, 11, 174G, Mary, a 
daughter of Capt. lianiel Smith." He was a Justice of the 
Peace. He was one of the three persons who built the mills 
in 1761 on Little River. See Goodwin's Xavrngansct, pages 
161-2. One of his children was 

Nathaniel, who settled on the Southeasterly corner of the 
ten-acre lot, which was given by the proprietors to the three 
persons who built the mills above-mentioned. He then built 
a house in which he lived until his death, which occurred July 
4, 1801. At the funeral Mr. Benjamin Elwell, father of Benja- 
min and Theodore, dropped dead. 

Mr. Hill married Martha Crockett, of Gorham, Dec. 30, 1773. 
She died April 13, 1824. Their children were 

Priscilla, born May 23, 1774; married Samuel, son of Capt. 
Jabez Lane, July 30, 1796 ; died May 25, 1815. 

Thomas, born Feb. 23, 177G ; died March 19, 1776. 

John, born Feb. 28, 1778 ; married Polly, daughter of Capt. 
Jabez Lane, July 6, 1800. 

About 1800, he built the house lately the residence of Jona- 
than C. Lewis, at Buxton Centre. 

Mr. Hill used part of it as a residence, and part as a store. 
A Mr. Powers afterwards occupied it as a residence and store ; 
still later it was used as a store by the late Capt. Samuel 
Dunnell. 

2 For some account of Capt. Smith, see Folsom's History of Saco and Biddeford, pp. 
240, 242. 



APPENDIX. 195 

John died Sept. 12, 1840. 

Susan, born May 26, 1780; died Feb. 20, 1807. 

Joseph, born May 1, 1782, studied law and practiced at 
Limington, and afterv/ards at Cherryficld, Me., where he died 
in 1844. 

Achsah, born July 2, 1784; married Samuel Dun nell, Nov. 
29, 1804; died Marcli 15, 1859. 

Samuel, born July 13, 178G; married Anna Bunnell, Nov, 17, 
1811 ; died Oct. 9, 1859. lie Avas a military major and deacon 
of the Congregational church. 

I make the following extracts from letters to me by the late 
Major John D. Hill, son of Maj. Samuel Hill : '<■ Mother says, 
and I have heard my father say, and Uncle Samuel Dunnell 
has told me the same, that there was a Mr. Thompson who 
died, and they had no place to bury, and they tried to buy of 
Mr. Boynton a lot for a burying ground where the new ceme- 
tery now is, and he would not sell to them, and that my 
grandfather gave them the land, now the old cemetery,^ and 
the second one buried there was his oldest [?] child. 

" My grandfather, Nathaniel Hill, died in the year 1801, and 
my uncle, John Hill, being the oldest son, administered and 
took the property, intending to pay off the rest of the heirs 
when they came of age ; but getting involved by building a 
mill on New river, so called, and losing it by a freshet, and in 
other ways got embarrassed and sold out to my father three- 
quarters of the grist-mill and one-eighth of the saw-mill below, 
by deed of 1811. Afterwards my father bought of Mr. Joseph 
Leavitt, and his son, Bradbury Leavitt, the rest of the grist- 
mill ; so says my mother, also Mrs. Smith, who was Bradbury 
Leavitt's widoAV. Two years after, in 1813, father bought uncle 
John all out in the farm, agreeing to take care of my grand- 
mother and paying off the heirs. 

" Mother says grandmother Hill has told her that my grand- 
father came up from Saco, built a house and. lived there two or 
three years before she married him. That they lost their first 
or second child when he was in the army in the year 1776. He 



lAt LeaTitt'3 Mills. 



196 APPENDIX. 

was out three or six mouths. Was out in the winter and quar- 
tered in New York, and while he was gone this child died. His 
father was an owner of mills at Saco and considered quite 
Avealthy at that time. The saw-mill was on the west side of 
the stream, and the grist-mill oijposite. 

"I have heard it said by the old men that they sawed in this 
mill the boards and some of the timber for Salmon Falls mill. 

"Deacon Ebenezer Hill of Saco, who died in 1748, had a son 
Jeremiah. This son was my great-grandfather, and his son 
Jeremiah^ who was a 2:)rominent man in Biddeford was my 
great-uncle. He was older than ray grandfather Nathaniel 
Hill- who built the old house* where you and I used to play. 

" My grandfather, Nathaniel, had one brother, DanieP, who 
lived and died in Buxton. Married in 1780, April G, to Sarah 
Leavitt. He was an ensign in the Revolution, in the company 
of his brother, Capt. Jeremiah Hill, of Biddeford." 

In 1792, Nathaniel Hill bought Lot 21 on Range C, 3d Divis- 
ion, and in 1795, he bought of John Rolfe " the following tracts 
or jDarcels of land, viz. : one tract or parcel laying between the 
mill privilege so called, and the southeast end of the eighth 
lot on the letter A and 3d Division, containing four acres and 
one hundred and fourteen rods ; the other beginning at the 
southeast end of the aforesaid eighth lot on Letter A, and carry- 
ing the breadth of said lot northwesterly to contain six acres, 
and also one other lot laying in said Buxton, being the eighth 
lot on the Letter A, and third division of lands * * * con- 
taining fifty-four acres be the same more or less." 

January 7, 1786, he bought of his brother, Daniel Hill, part 
of Lot 9, Range B, 8d Division, and in 1788, another part of 
said lot, the two purchases probably covering the whole lot, 
though the descriptions do not make this certain. He also 
owned the greater part, if not the whole, of Lot 14, Range C, 
3d Division. 

He and his wife joined the Congregational Church, Nov. 8, 
1778. The baptism of their children v/ill be found in the 

^Baptized Aug. 9, 1747. 'Baptized March 26, 1749. 

^Baptized July 18, 175C. "See Dennett's raap, 1870. 



APPENDIX. 197 

church records, priuted in 1868. I have his autograph as Col- 
lector of Buxton in 1786. 

Abigail, born Juno 29, 1788; married Abel Merrill, jr., June 
25, 1809. 

Nathaniel, born July 7, 1790; died at sea, Nov., 1809. 

Jeremiah, born June 9, 1793, clergyman; married in Indiana. 

Mary, born June 9, 1793 ; married John Ilanscomb, jr., Sept. 
29, 1816. 

Mark, born May 22, 1796; married Arvilla Kuggles of Sut- 
ton, Vt. ; died in Sutton, Vt. 

Martha, born Jan. 12, 1801; married James Huntress; died 
in Lyman. 

Daniel Hill, son of Jeremiah, of Biddeford, a brother of Na- 
thaniel, was born July 6, 1756; he settled on a branch of Little 
river on the west ride of the road leading from Spruce Swamp 
to Kimball's Corner; married Sarah Leavit, April 6, 1780. 

Their children were : 

Jeremiah, born June 6, 1781 ; married Abigail Webster. 

Elizabeth, born Nov. 1-1, 1782; never married. 

Thomas, born Aug. 30, 1784. 

Sarah, born June 13, 1786; married Thomas Paine. 

Daniel, born July 8, 1788; married Hannah Gage. 

Rebecca, born Sept. 19, 1790; married John Smith. 

Ebenezer,^ born Jan. 5, 1793; married Lydia Harmon. 

Joseph, born Nov. 5, 1794 ; died young. 

William, born Feb. 16, 1796; married Sally Emery. 

Ruth, born May 20, 1798; married John Owen. 

Mrs. Sarah Hill died March 20, 1800. For a second wife, 
Daniel married Phebe Paine, of Gorhara; they were published 
Feb. 6, 1801. 

Their children were : 

Richard, born Jan. 14, 1802 ; married Adaline, daughter of 
Capt. Jabez Lane. 

Peter, born May, 1804; married Cynthia, daughter of Capt. 
Joseph Dunnell. 



^Ebenezer still lives on the old place and has held many offices of trust in the town. 
—Ed. 



198 APPENDIX. 

Joseph, born Nov. 5, 1807; mamcd Rebecca Staples. 

Jeremiah and Mary Hill, fiither of Nathaniel, who settled in 
tliis town, had a daughter Anna, "who was baptized March 13, 
1763. Mr, Samuel A. Hill thinks it was she who married 
Daniel "Whitmore, of Gorham, April 16, 1782. Slie was then 
of Buxton. 

Samuel Hill and Susanna his wife, who joined the church in 
Buxton in 1795, Avere of Saco, near the Buxton line. 

Ebenezer Hill, of Saco, died in Narraganset No. 1, of a fever, 
in August, 1767.-^ 

*The Editor has re-writteu, changed and improved what I wrote iu regard to this 
family. The opeuing sentences are by him, as also dates and other facts scattered 
through the article. c. w. 



Q 

LANES. 

I have no time to do justice here to the three brothers of this 
name who settled in this town, and were captains in the Revo- 
lution! 

It is the duty of some of their descendants to write an 
account of them. I merely put down hero a few items which 
may, perhaps, assist any one who may attempt a biography and 
genealogy of them. 

On page 204 of Folsom's History of Saco and Biddeford, he 
says: "Capt. Lane was at this time [1717] the commander of 
Fort Mary, Winter Harbor, where he died not long after. He 
was born in Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated to New England 
while a young man. Before his military appointment at this 
place he had settled in Hampton, N. H." 

In a note to this passage, Mr. Folsom adds, "Family tradi- 
tion. Col, I. Lane, of Holli^, is a great grandson of Capt. 
Lane." 

Part of the information so given by Mr. Folsom was doubt- 
less derived from Col. Isaac Lane. 

In the town records of Newbury, Mass,, I find flicts in regard 



APPENDIX. 



199 



to the progeuitors of tlie Biixtou Lanes which are unknown to 
any of their descendants. 

Mr. William Little, town clerk of Newbury, writes to me as 
follows : 

Newbury, Sept. 25, 1873. 

Dear Sir: — Yours of the 19ih is before me, and in reply I 
send the following : 

"Mr. John Lane &; Islvs} Johannah Davinson boath of New- 
bury ware Married Novemb'r 1693. 

" Abigail ye daughter of Mr. John Lane & Mrs. Joanuah his 
wife born August 15 [1693] John Lane ye son of Capt. John 
Lane & Joannah his wife was born at Hampton in ye pro- 
vince of New hampshire in Newingland March ye 1, 1701-2. 

" Living ye son of Capt. John Lane & Mrs. Joannah his wife 
borne Novemb'r 13 [1704]. Mary ye daught'r of Capt. John 
Lane & Mrs. Joannah his wife born Feb [1706] " 

The year in the above where it is enclosed in brackets is 
not found in the record of the births, but is taken from the 
head of the page. Very respectfully, 

Willia:^! Little. 

Mr. Little, in a prior letter to me, says : " I do not think 
that implicit reliance can be placed upon the date of the mar- 
riage of John Lane, for upon reverting to the original record 
I notice that it was not recorded among other marriages of the 
time, but it is on a blank half page with one other dated 1712, 
and in the handwriting of some one who sometimes wrote in 
the town books, but I am confident was never town clerk." 

The record of the intention of their marriage is not found 
in the Newbury records. 

In the Newbury records, we thus find the names, Joanuah 
and Living, which are to be found among the Buxton stock of 
Lanes to this day. These facts and the family tradition above- 
named, leave no reasonable doubt that the three captains, John, 
Daniel, and Jaboz, who settled in Buxton, were the grand-chil- 

^Mra. in the original, but it was not then uncommon to use the prefix before the 
names of those who had not been married. She was, perhaps, a daughter of Mr. Dan- 
iel Davison, then of Newbmy. 



200 APPENDIX. 

dren of John who married Johanna Davinson, and who in the 
Newbnry records is styled Mr. and afterwards Captain, and 
who was commander of Fort Mary at the Pooh 

The only mention of Mr. John Lane in the records of Hamp- 
ton, N. II., is the following : 

"John the son of Mr. John Lane By Johanah his "wife was 
Borne the first of March 170|" 

Mr. Joseph Dow who is at work on a history of Hampton 
says: "I am nnable to trace any connection between this John 
Lane and the other Lane families living liere. The fact that 
the title of Mr., then so sparingly used, is prefixed to his name 
in the above record, sliows tliat he Avas a man of distinction. 
In looking over several pages of births of children, where this 
one is recorded (I looked at about 200), I find only two in- 
stances besides this in which this title is used; one of the per- 
sons thus honored v.'as a physician and the other belonged to a 
family of high standing." 

What we are sure of is that the fatlier of the three Buxton 
brothers was named John, and that he was also a military cap- 
tain, and that the family tradition, as above stated, is that their 
grandfather was Capt. John of Fort Mary. I found in the 
State House in Boston some petitions of John Lanc\ who, I 
suppose, Avas their father. These petitions I sent to Capt. 
Goodwin, and they will be found printed in his Narragansct 
No. 1, pages 375-378. 

Miss Hannah H. Dyer obtained the folloAving list of his chil- 
dren from Mrs. Scamman (born Atkinson) of Saco, for me. 

It is probably correct. 

Family record of Capt. John and Mary Lane : 

John Lane, born July 4, 1734; baptized by Rogers; died July 
14, 1822. 

Henry Lane, born Aug. 19, 1737; baptized by Rutherford; 
died December, 1737. 



ijoliu Lane kept a public house ill Narragansct No. 1, for wc liud in the recori.ls of 
the Court of Commou Pleas, iu the York Couuty Records, " John Lane Licensed to 
keep Publick House in Narragausett No. one, he principal, Samuel Warren and An. 
drew Bradstrcet sureties July 17C2." This is the first known record of a public 
house in the township. This is probably the same John Lane spoken of above.— Ed. 



APrEXDix. 201 

Joanna Lane, born Sept. 18, 1738; baptized by Johnson; 
died Oct. 19, 1827. 

Daniel Lane, born JMay 11, 1740 ; baptized by Johnson ; died 
Sept. 11, 1811. 

Jabez Lane, born Sept 21, 1743; baptized by Rutherford; 
died April 30, 1830. 

John Lane, the father of the above-named chiklren married 
Mary, daughter of Capt. Peter jSTowell of York, Maine. 

Wo thus trace the three brothers, correctly, I think, to Capt. 
John of Fort Mary. 

It v.'As probably Rev. Robert Rutherford, chaplain at the fort 
at St. Georges (which was situated close by where Gen. Knox 
afterwards built his mansion in Thomaston), who baptized 
Henry and Jabez. On a muster roll now to be seen in the 
State house in Boston, Daniel is put down as having been born 
at Broad Bay, a term which then was probably applied some- 
what indefinitely to the country about Waldoborough and 
Thomaston. It is quite probable that John Lane, the father of 
the children above named, was for sometime employed at or in 
the vicinity of the fort at St. Georges. Indeed, he states in 
one of his petitions, above mentioned, " that he lived at St. 
Georges when this war began with the French," which was in 
1744. 

On the 28th of April, 175G, John Wendell certifies, " I have 
past muster upon 40 men all to serve in the present expedition 
against Crown Point in Capt. John Lane's company of Bidde- 
ford. 

In the muster roll are the names of his sons, John Lane, jr., 
and Daniel Lane. 

On the 9th of December, 1743, " Capt. John Lane of St. 
Georges" was recommended to the governor by Wm. Pepper- 
ell, Jeremiah Moulton, and Samuel Waldo, as a suitable person 
for captain of one of the four companies then about to be 
raised in Maine, and it is probable that he soon thereafter re- 
ceived the appointment. 

He seems at one time to have had command at Fort Halifax 
on the Kennebec, for in a letter ou file in the State House in 
Boston he speaks of "my company at Fort Hallifax." 



202 APPENDIX, I 

He died, as appears from a muster roll, on or about July 14, 
1756, in the "expedition towards Crown Point." His son John, 
then lieutenant, as:;umed the command of the company. This 
company under the command of the son "was mustered at 
" Camp at Fort William Henry Oct. 11, 175G, in Colonel 
Joseph D wight's regiment in the Provincial Troops raised by 
the province of the Massachusetts Bay for Removing the 
French Encroachments at Crown Point," etc. 

Daniel Lane was then a private in the company, aged IG 
years and five months. His name also appears on a muster 
roll of his father's company in 1754 ; and in a muster roll of 
Capt. Lane, from Sept. 21, 1754, to April 18, 1755, appears the 
name of Jabez, "son under age", then between eleven and 
twelve years old. 

I get the following traditionary information from a letter of 
the late Hon. M. D. L. Lane to me, dated March 30, 1872. 

"What I know in relation to the original John Lane is what 
Capt. Stephen Lane, my uncle, related to Stephen P. Lane, my 
brother, who wrote it down at the time uncle Stephen told 
him. The language used is this, 'John Lane, eldest son of John 
Lane of Limerick County, Ireland, an officer in the British ser- 
vice came to America and commanded the fort at the mouth of 
Saco river, near the Pool. The place of burial was shown 
Stephen Lane, son of Jabez, a groat-grandson of said John 
Lane who died at the Pool. 

' And John Lane, son of said John Lane who died at the Pool, 
was lieutenant under his father and Avas sent to command the 
fort at the mouth of Georges river, was born in the year 1700. 
He started from Georges river, went to Boston, was taken sick, 
left his chest with all his paj^ers in Boston, and j^roceeded to 
Lake George in the State of New York and there died at the 
age of 56 years. His son John was Avith him wlicn he died. 
His chest left in Boston could never be found. 

'John Lane that died at Lake George was the lather of 
Jabez Lane, who was born at the mouth of St. Georges river.' 

" Such is the statement made by Stephen Lane to Stephen 
P. as above mentioned, with some little additional matter that 
I think not worth cojiying." 



APPElsTJIX. 



203 



111 another letter to mo he says : " Jolin was taken prisoner 
by the Indians and was among them several years. This I 
take it was before tlie revolutionary Avar. He was also in Dart- 
moor prison." 

This traditionary information is not worth much, except as a 
clue to facts or confirmatory of them. There are, I think, in- 
accuracies in the foregoing statement, and I doubt very much 
whether the grave of Capt. John Lane who died at the Pool 
was so preserved as to have been seen by his great grandson 
Stephen. He states that he saw the place where he v/as buried 
by Avhich he may have meant the burial ground, near the Pool 
and near the river, on the road from Ciddeford to the Pool 
-which the winds have blown almost away. 

The Hon. M. D. L. Lane also says in the same letter, " Capt. 
Jabez Lane, my grandfather, while in the army during the 
revolutionary Avar fought a duel Avith. an officer in the army 
from the South. 

"Col. Isaac Lane Avhcn on a visit to Washington learned 
from a gentleman Avhom he met there, that the gentleman's fa- 
ther fought a duel Avith one Lane from the East. This gentle- 
man stated that Avhile the army Avas stationed at some point in 
the South, the officers gave a dinner at Avhicli his father and 
Capt. Lane Avere present; that becoming rather hilarious and 
boisterous over their Avine, and somewhat excited, his father 
said something derogatory to the character of the Yankees, at 
which Capt. Lane slapped him in the face. A challenge and 
duel foUoAved. The gentleman stated to Col. Isaac Lane that 
his father Avas Avounded in the leg; that the Capt. Lane was 
Avounded in the side, a flesh Avound merely. 

" Col. Lane said he thought the matter over, and came to the 
conclusion that if it Avas either of the three brothers, John, 
Jabez, or Daniel, all three of Avhom Avere captains in the army, 
it must have been Jabez, for he Avas inclined to the belief that 
if it had been John or Daniel, they Avould have told of it, but 
that Jabez Avould be inclined to keep it to himself. 

« Sometime after Col. Isaac Lane returned home from Wash- 
ington, one Saturday afternoon Avhcn a goodly number of the 



204 APPEiS'DIX. 

citizens were gatlicrecl in his store for the purpose of drinking 
rum and molasses, telling stories, swapping horses, etc,, etc., 
among whom was Capt. Jabez Lane. Col. Isaac related what 
the gentleman told him in Washington relating to the duel. 

" After he got through, Capt. Jabez unbuttoned his breeches 
and showed tlie crowd the wound he had received in his side 
in the duel, thus identifying himself as the Lane Avho fought 
it." 

As I have said above, these three brothers shoukl, at tlie 
hands of tlieir descendants, have more full biographical notices 
than I can give them here, and to tlieir descendants I commend 
the work. 

Isaac, son of Cajjt. Daniel was with his father in the revolu- 
tionary army. 

He and his brother Daniel raised a regiment in the war of 
1812, the 33d regiment of infantry, and went into active ser- 
vice. Isaac was colonel, and Daniel major and afterwards lieut. 
colonel. 

The Lanes may well be called the military family of Buxton. 

The three brothers, John, Daniel, and Jabez were all laid to 
rest in the graveyard by the meeting-house at the Lower 
Corner. Gravestones mark the graves of John and Jabez. 
Daniel and wife were buried near the spot where their son. Col. 
Isaac, was buried, but no stones mark their graves. 

Capt. Daniel left journals of the time when he was in tlie 
army. One of them was printed in the July number, 1872, of 
the N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register. The other 
journals, unprinled, are in the possession of the Maine Histori- 
cal Society. Two of his children are still living, January, 
1873, viz: Olive, widow of Nathaniel Dunn, now residing in 
Ilollis, Maine, and Col. Daniel, now residing Avith his son-in- 
law, Mr. Bingham, at Newtonville, Mass. 

Col. Daniel has furnished me with a written account of his 
military life. 

Neither Mrs. Dunn nor Col. Daniel knows anything about 
their grandfather. 

Capt. Daniel Lane married Molly Woodman, October 21, 



APPENDIX. 205 

1762, lie settled at the Lower Corner about forty rods from 
the mcethig-house, near the j^resent scliool-house. lie made a 
a pm-chase there July 5, 17G3, and he remained there until after 
the birth of his youngest child. His house there was burnt, 
and he afterwards lived in several diiFerent places. Died in 
Hollis. 

Capt. Jaboz Lane settled on Lot 4,R:inge A, 2d Division, and 
there remained until his death. 

Caj^t. John Lane lived for a time on the spot where Charles 
Coffin, Esq., afterwards lived, and where jSTathan II. Woodman 
now lives.^ He lived in and probably built the two-story house 
Avhich Avas moved from there to the spot opposite the i^resent 
parsonage house, where it now stands. Mr. Tristram Eaton 
says that it was dilapidated as long ago as he can remember. 
The trees in front of Nathan Woodman's house were set out 
by him as uniform tradition tells us. At the time of his death 
he lived in a house built by Ezekiel Barnes, on the road to 
Pleasant Point. It stood behind what is called the Gupper 
Block. 

Joanna, their only sister, married Isaac Ilancoclc, and, after 
his death, John Garland, who lived on the spot where Mr. 
jSTathaniel Milliken now lives, and who for many years kept 
there the only tavern in this town. He was buried in the ex- 
treme southern corner of the graveyard at the Lower Corner, 
and his wife beside him. No stones mark the spot. She has 
been described to me as neat in person, straight, rosy cheeked, 
and handsome in her old age, and as bright, active, of a de- 
cided will, and much executive ability. She left numerous de- 
scendants. 

[The names of descendants of Capt. John Lane maybe found 
in Goodwin's Narraganset, page 37G. 

Of Capt. Daniel Lane in the same, pages 296 and 297. 

Of Capt. Jabez Lane in the same, pages 286 and 288. — Ed.] 

^He bought this lot June 18, 1755, and is then described as of Xarraganset No. 1, 
cordwainer. It was here, I suppose, that he kept tavern in 17C2, as mentioned by the 
editor in a preceding note. 



206 



APPENDIX. 



R 

NASON". 

On the 28th of March, 1760, John Nason, then of Biddeford 
or Saco, bought of Samuel Rolfe then of Narraganset No. 1, 
Lots 8 and 10 of Range D, 1st Division, and other lands. This 
Lot 8 he afterwards sold to Daniel Leavitt. 

His wife was Mary, daughter of Robert Edgcomb who died 
about 17Ci, and granddaughter of Rachel Edgcomb who died 
about 1725, "seized of a part of Bonighton's and Lewis's pa- 
tent situate partly in Pepperrellborough and partly in Scar- 
borough." Jemima, a sister of Mary, married Benj. Nason. 
John and Mary were married Jane 6, 1751. 

They were, I suppose, the John and Mary Nason who liad 
children baptized in Biddeford as follows : 

Charity, baptized July 19, 1752. 

John, " May 19, 1754. 

Margaret, " June 20, 1756. 

Joseph, « May 18, 1760. 

The first three names do not appear in the list of his children 
as made by Mr. Nason in the town records of Buxton, in his 
own handwriting. They, perhaps, died young, or he omitted 
them because they were not born in Buxton. lie had a sister 
Charity for whom his oldest child was perhaps named. 

In the town record of Buxton the list of his children, in his 
own hand writing, is as follows : It includes, perhaps, only 
tliose born in Buxton. 

John, born May 29, 1758. 

Joseph, born May 12, 1760. 

Sarah, born May 8, 1762. 

Edward, born March 31, 176-i. 

Robert, born April 5, 1766. 

Moses, born April 17, 1768. 

Benjamin, born July 12, 1770. 

Samuel, born August 7, 1772. 

Nicholas, born March 21, 1776. 

The seven last named were baptized in Buxton by Rev. 



APPENDIX. 



207 



Paul Coffin, but; in the baptismal register Edward stands as 
Ephraiin. 

The son John, then of Little Ossipee, now Limington, mar- 
ried Mary Fowl of Buxton, June 7, 1781, and Oct. 11 of the 
same year, Joseph of Little Ossipee married Hannah McLucas, 
of Buxton. 

Mr. Nason was one of the seven first members of the Con- 
gregational church in Buxton, and one of the first deacons. Ho 
w'as also the first town clerk. 

Charles Coffin, Esq., says : " Deacon Nason w^as annually re- 
elected town clerk till the year 1780, when he removed to Lim- 
ington. Ilis cotemporaries uniformly spoke highly of him for 
his integrity, respectable abilities, and unsullied christian char- 
acter." 

Mr. John, son of Isaiah Brooks, in a communication to me in 
Januarj^, 1873, says : " I discovered an old cellar in my father's 
pasture ; he said it was where old Deacon Nason settled." This 
cellar may, perhaps, be found on Lot 10 of Range D, 2d Divis- 
ion. 

To V\diom he sold this lot on leaving Buxton I do not know ; 
perhaps to Mr. Brooks, 



S 
HOPKINSOX. 

On the 4th of October, 1763, John Ilopkinson, then of Bid- 
deford, bought Lots 7 and 8 in Range B, 1st Division, and on 
May 2, 1764, being then of Narragansei No. 1, bought of Amos 
Hood, taylor, of the same place, " Two Home Lots on the 
Range of Letter A, Numb'd three and four with the dwelling- 
house that is on it." On the same day he also bought of Sam- 
uel Plunier, of the same place. Lots 5 and 6 in the same Range, 
"also a Barn on the premises." 

His home was on Lot 6, and his descendants occupy it to 
this day. See Dennett's map. It seems from the letter of 
Nathan, his great grandson liereinafter quoted, tliat he had 



208 



APPENDIX. 



two wives. lie probfibly clicd in 1784, as his will was proved 
that year. A copy of it may be found in Goodwin's Narragan- 
set, page 263. 

The late Nathan Hopkiuson, of Saco, wrote a letter to rae of 
which the following is a copy : 

"Fkiend Woodman: — la answer to yovn- request, I send 
3^ou the following : 

"My grandfxther, John Hopkinson, jr., was born in Bradford, 
Mass., in 1740, July 27th, and died January 24, 1817. Re- 
bekah Tenney, wife of John Hopkinson, born in Bradford, 
Mass., Sept. 20, 1741, and died April IG, 1807, in Buxton, on 
the homestead. The house is not standing. Jesse G. Harmon's 
house is over the cellar. They were both buried at Pleasant 
Point. 
"Children of John and Rebekah Hopkinson: 

Sarah, born January 5, 1761 ; died Dec. 25, 1847. 

Rebekah, born August 29, 1763. 

Nathan, born Nov. 25, 1765; married Dec. 8, 1793, to widovv' 
Elizabeth Andrews. He died in Saco, Dec. 2, 1813. 

His wife died in Saco, Sept. 6, 1798. 

Jonathan, born July 15, 1767; married Nov. 24, 1801, to 
Hannah Joss, and second marriage to Mrs. Alice Haley. He 
died Feb. 23, 1842. Second wife died Feb. 16, 1827. All in 
Hollis. 

"Stcplien, born Dec. 14, 1769; married Dec. 16, 1792, Martha 
Garland. He died Aug. 17, 1855, at Union Falls. His wife 
died April 25, 1847. 

Samuel, born Feb. 5, 1777; married June 7, 1801, to Eliza- 
beth Appleton; died Oct. 4, 1851. His wife died Sept. 15, 
1856, in Buxton. 

Bethiah, born August 25, 1773 ; died in Hollis, 

Lydla, l)orn Sept. 21, 1783, and died March 14, 1836, in 
Saco. 

" My grandfather, John IIo[)kinson, jr., was half brother to 
Caleb and Joses; three brothers only. Mrs. Bradbury, Mrs. 
Palmer of Hollis, and Mrs. Merrill, lived in Maine. [Sisters or 
half sisters of his grandfather.] Of the other daughters I know 



APPENDIX. 209 

nothing. Of John Ilopkinsonj senior [his great-grandfather], I 
do not know anj'thing. 

" Caleb Hopkinson^ died in Limington, Feb. 18, 1841, aged 94 
years and six months. lie was a native of Bradford, Mass. 
lie was among the first settlers of Buxton, and drove the first 
loaded team from Saco to Buxton. In the war of the revolu- 
tion he had a full share of hardships and suffering. 

He was one of Gen. Gates' body guard at the surrender of 
Burgoyne, and shared in that bloody conflict. 
" Nathan Ilopkinson's children : 

James, died in Saco, in 1854, Feb. 18, aged 59 years. 

Nathan, born Sept. 30, 179G. 

Jonathan Ilopkinson's children : 

Hannah J., born Feb. 13, 1808; died Fob. 7, 1833. 

Bethiah, born March 6, 1810. 

William S., born May 3, 1812. 

Alice, born July 21, 1815; died Jan. 3, 1851. 

Rebekah, born May 17, 1818. 
" Stephen Hopkinson's children : 

Rebecca, born March 16, 1793 ; died Sept. 1, 18G6. 

Hannah, born Nov. 1, 1794; died May 22, 1853. 

Elizabeth, born Jan. 1, 1799. 

Mary, born Dec. 9, 1801. 

John, born Oct. 28, 1805; died Dec, 1855. 

Lydia, born June 19, 1810. 

Stephen, born Dec. 3, 1813. 

Ilariet, born Feb. 19, 1817. 
" Samuel Hopkinson's children : 

Elizabeth, born Aug. 16, 1802 ; died April 20, 1830. 

Sarah, born Sept. 6, 1804; died Nov. 12, 1828. 

Rebekah, born Oct. 14, 1807; died March 11, 1827. 

Lydia, born July 27, 1810 ; died Jan. 5, 1829. 

Deborah, born Oct. 9, 1812. 



^Caleb Hopkiusoii married widow Sarah Safford, Dec. G, 1770, and tlieir cliildreu 
were as follows : Stephen, born Sept. 27, 1771. John, boru March 27, 177-i, and died 
1777. Moses, boru March 27, 1 779. Rachael, born January 5, 1784. Mary, born M.<iy 
4, 1783. Moses died April 22, 1796.— Ed. 



210 APPENDIX. 

Aclisah, bora June 25, 1815; died May 28, 1842. 

Samuel, born July 14, 1817. 

Mary, born Aug. 6, 1819; died May 5, 1832." 

Mr. Daniel Dennett, in a letter to lue, says : " Miss Deborah 
Ilopkinson, who now [18G8] lives on the old place where John 
Ilopkinson, her grandfather, lived, told me that her great- 
grandflither, John Ilopkinson, in his last days, lived with his 
son Joses, and died there, and was probably buried at Pleasant 
Point, but she is not certain about it. But her grandfather, 
John Hojikinson, jr., and his v.dfe were buried at Pleasant 
Point." 



T 

TRAVEL BY CHAISE. 

I have the following statement in the handwriting of Charles 
Coffin, Esq. 

"In July, 1777, Stej)hen Gorham, Esq., late of Boston, Y>'ith 
his wife, commenced a journey to Buxton to visit his sister 
Coffin. They traveled to Saco in a chaise, and here were ad- 
vised not to attempt to get to Buxton in a chaise, as no car- 
riage of the kind had ever passed on the road. But his wife 
being unaccustomed to riding on a pillion he made the attempt 
and vv'as four hoiirs on the road, walking himself to steady the 
chaise. Dr. Coffin, Mr. Gorham, and their wives being desir- 
ious to visit the late Judge "William Gorham of Gorham, a rela- 
tive, ten miles distant,^ the females were compelled to try the 
pillion, although a new mode of travel [to Mrs. Gorham]. 

This visit or journey was made in two clays [one day going 
and one coming] with considerable fear and trepidation on the 
part of the wives." 

iThe road from the Lower Corner to Gorh.im then was by tlio way of Leavitt's 
niill^, or by what is uow caUed Buxton Centre. 

Miss Elizabeth Gorham, daughter of Stephen Gorhaui, who was a brotlier of the 
wife of Rev. Dr. Coffin says in a letter to me: 

" I remember to have heard my father say that when he and my mother went to 
Buxton soon ( ?) after your grandmother was married, to make a visit, that it was such 
a strange thing to see a horse and chaise, the children ran out of the houses to look 
at them. The roads were almost impassable." This refers to the children and the 
roads from Saco to Buxton. 



APPENDIX. 211 

u 

COFFIN. 

A brief memoir of Dr. CofEn and some jom-nals kept by him 
may be found in the 4th volume of the collections of the Maine 
Historical Society. What here follows is mainly due to the 
pens of the late Joshua Coffin, of ISTewbury, and the late 
Charles Coffin, Esq., of Buxton, excepting, however, the fiicts 
stated in the list of the children of Dr. Coffin, whicli have been 
mostly obtained by mc. c, ^y. 

From Prince's Worthies of Devonshire, we learn that " the 
ancient fliinily of this name (Coffin) was settled at Portledge 
by the seaside, ia the Parish of Ahvington, five miles from Bid- 
deford, and flourished there from the conquest; and from the 
time of King Henry the First unto the age of King Edward the 
Second, the space of 200 years, the heir of this family was al- 
ways called Richard. The present representative of this most 
ancient family is the Reverend John Pine Coffin of Portledge." 

Rev. Dr. Coffin was a descendant of Nicholas Coffin, of But- 
ler's Parish, Brixton, Devonshire, whose will was dated Sept. 
12, 1603, and proved Nov. 3, 1603. His wife's given name was 
Joan ; children, Peter, Tristram, Nicholas, John and Anna. 
The will of Peter, son of Nicholas, was proved March 13, 1627. 
The name of his wife was Joan, and his children were Tristram 
his heir, Joan, Deborah, Eunice, Mary, and John. His will 
speaks of a child not then born. It directs that his son Tris- 
tram be "provided for according to his degree and callinp-," 

This Tristram is the first American ancestor of all the Coffins 
in this country. He married Dionis Stevens. In 1642, he came 
to America with his wife, mother, sisters Eunice and Mary, and 
five children, viz.: Peter, Tristram, Elizabeth, James and John. 
He had two children born in New England, Mary in Haverhill, 
Feb. 20, 1645, and Stephen in Newbury, May 11, 1652. He 
first went to Salisbury, and thence, the, same year, to Haver- 
hill, and thence, about the year 1648, to Newbury. In 1654 or 
1655 he removed from Newbury to Salisbury, Avhere he sio-ns 
his name "Tristram Coffyn, Commissioner of Salisbury." In 



212 APrENDIX. 

1659, a company was formed in Salisbury wliicli purchased 
nine-tenths of Nantucket, whither he went in 1660, with his 
wife, mother, and four of his children, James, John, StcjDhen, 
and Mary, He is said to have been the first person who used 
a plough in Haverhill. His name is found there as a witness 
to the Indian deed of that town dated March 15, 1642. He 
always wrote his name Coffyn. It is supposed that he was the 
only one of the early settlers of Newbury who left England on 
account of the success of Cromwell. He was born in 1609, 
and died at Nantucket in 1G81. 

His son, "Lieut. Deacon Tristram, 2(1, esquire," was born in 
England in 1632. On the 2d of March, 1653, he married 
Judith Somerby, widow of Henry Somerby and daughter of 
Capt. Edmund Greenleaf He lived in Newbury and about the 
year 1654 erected a house there, which, with some (now an- 
cient) additions, is still standing and has been constantly 
owned and occupied by his descendants from that day to this ; 
the present occupant being Joshua Coffin. He had ten chil- 
dren, the youngest of whom was: 

"Hon. Nathaniel,^" born March 22, 1669; married Sarah 
Dole, March 29, 1693. He resided in Newbury, where he died 
Feb. 20, 1748. He had eight children, among whom was: 

" Col. Joseph, Esq.,"" born Dec. 20, 1702 ; married Margaret 
Morss. He resided in Newbury where he died. He had eight 
childred, viz.: Sarah, born Aug, 25, 1726, and married Rev. 
Daniel Little of Wells, June 6, 1759 ; died in Kennebunk. 
Enoch, born Aug. 9, 1728 ; died Sept. 30, 1728. Mary, born 
Dec. 8, 1729; died Nov. 11, 1735. Joshua, born Jan. 9, 1731 ; 
married Sarah Bartlett, Jan, 21, 1755, died in Newbury. Da- 
vid, born Feb. 27, 1733; married Mary Pike, Aug. 23, 1759. 
He was a sea captain and was lost at sea December, 1764. Su- 
sanna, born Feb. 6, 1735; married James Boyd, Aug. 11, 1757, 
died in Boston. Paul,^ the subject of this memoir, born Jan. 
16, 1737^; married Mary Gorliam, of Charlcstown, Nov. 10, 
1763; died June 6, 1821. Charles, born Aug. 17, 1741; married 

'1737, O. S., it beiug 1738 as we uow reckon. 



APPENDIX. 213 

Hepsibah Carnes of Boston, July 1, 1773. He was a physician 
and lived at Newbury, where he died. 

Paul was the seventh child of Col. Joseph, and of the 5th 
generation from the first American ancestor. He was born at 
the old Coffin homestead in Newbury in the house before men- 
tioned. The room in which it is supposed he first saw the light 
still remains in good preservation. 

His youth was spent at home in Newbury until he entered 
Harvard College, where he and his brother Charles graduated 
in " the glorious year '59," as he often said in allusion to the 
capture of Quebec that year by Wolfe. 

When he left college ho was noticed and distinguished for 
his hterary acquirements and correct deportment. 

During the years 1759 and 1760, he taught school in the 
toAvns of Kingston, K H., and Wells and Biddeford, Maine. 

On the 10th of November, 1763, he married Mary, daugliter 
of Capt. Nathaniel Gorham, a sea captain, of Charlestown, 
Mass. Mr. Coffin became acquainted with his wife through her 
brother, John, who was a classmate in college. Another broth- 
er was the able and distinguished Nathaniel Gorham, who was 
President of the Continental Congress in 1786, for several years 
Judge of the C. C. Pleas, was a member of the convention 
which formed the Federal Constitution, and "afterward exerted 
a povv'erful influence in securing the adoption of the Constitu- 
tion in the State Convention." 

She was born in Charlestown, Feb. 23, 1740, and died in 
Buxton Dec. 20, 1803. 

She was a woman of good sense and accomplished manners, 
and of early and constant piety. Though raised in ease, she 
Avillingly, for the sake of her beloved husband, made her home 
with him in the wilderness, and though previously unaccus- 
tomed to domestic cares and labors, soon became an exemplary 
housewife. Not neglecting the cultivation of mind and man- 
ners, she taught and exemplified the importance of a knowl- 
edge of household duties, and her daughters following her pre- 
cepts and example, all became accomplished in these duties, 
including the then important and necessary arts of carding, 
spinning, and weaving. 



214 APPENDIX. 

By her, his only wife, Mr. Coffin had fourteen children, viz. : 

Mary, bora Oct. 24, 1764; died unmarried, at Buxton, Dec. 
22, 1826. 

Elizabeth, born Jan. 26, 1766, and died March 24, 1766. 

Paul, born March 19, 1767. He built the two-story house 
near Mr. Joseph Garland's now owned by Mr. Charles Berry. 
He kept a little store at one time on the other side of the road 
from Charles L. Coffin's house, and at another time beyond his 
own house, northerly. He was licensed to retail spirit in 1794,^ 
and it is to his shop that Mr. "Williams alludes on page 28 
of his Centennial Address, where he speaks of " the deadly 
draught," which was to be had by the door of the reverend 
pastor. 

One who knew Paul well at this period of his life says that 
he was a very clever man but a hard drinker. " He used to 
trouble the old gentleman very much, wlio frequently came to 
his stoi'e, Avhere he traded a little and kept the Post Office (he 
was then post-master), and talk to him, but generally got little 
satisfaction. He told him once that rum was his greatest 
enemy. Paul stuttered, ' Well father, you tell us we should 
love our enemies.' He was a queer fellow. He would not 
drink every day, but about once in two or three weeks would 
have a real blow-out. 

"The family after a while got Paul off back into the country, 
where he became very temperate while there, but when he 
came down to see his folks he would c:et with his old comrades 



'The retaUcrs of liquors in Buxton during the years below named were .■ 

1792, Cadwallader Gray, Edmund Knight, Zachariah Usher. 

1793, Ezeliiel Barnes, James Scamman, Isaac Lane, Paul Coffin, jr., Jolin Ewiiig, 
Edmund Knight. 

1794, Paul Coffin, jr., James Scamman. 

1796, James Scamman, Josepli Atliinson, Paul Coffin, jr. 

1797, Xathaniel Dunn, James Scamman, Benjamin D. Bryant, Samuel Ilayncs. 

1798, B^nj. D.Bryant, Paul Coffin, jr., James Scamman. 

1793, Samuel Lewis, Zenas Payne, Benj. D. Brj-ant, James Scamman, Benj. V^'ar- 
ren, Joseph Woodman, Nathan Elden. 

John Garland was licensed as an innholder at various times during the years ahove 
named. Ho seems to have had one competitor in 1798, viz. : Zachariah Usher. In 1800 
ho and Ebenczer Wentworth were licensed as innholders. 



APrENDIX. 215 

and have a glorious drunk. He kept school up there and was 
very useful and maintained himself very well and left consid- 
erable property. 

" It was the custom in those days if an infant had the 
stomach ache, or anytliiug of the kind, to give it a dose of 
toddy, and the old lady was veiy much in the faith, when her 
children Avere ill, that a little stimulus was necessary; and I 
have no doubt that in this way some of her children acquired 
a taste they never forgot." 

During my recollection of him he was a resident of Thorn- 
ton, N. H. (visiting Buxton occasionally). 

He died in Thornton, Jan. 20, 1841. He was never married. 

Elizabeth, born May 15, 17G8 ; married Nathl. Gould of Gor- 
ham, where she died Oct. 2, 1794. 

John Gorham, born Nov. 14, 1760; married Elizabeth Kice, 
of Brookfield, Mass. He studied medicine in IsTewburyport. 
He settled in Boston, where he stood high as a man and physi- 
cian. Shortly before his death he went to Brookfield, Mass., 
and there died Jan. 22, 1829. 

Dorcas, born October 7, 1771 ; married Dr. Koyal Brewster, 
Nov. 20, 1795, who for many years, and until his death, was a 
physician in Buxton. He built the house now the residence 
of Mr. John D. Coffin. Mrs. Brewster died March 23, 1852. 

Stephen, born June 14, 1773 ; married Sarah Reed, Sept. 30, 
1815. Settled in Nobleborough, now Damariscotta, and traded 
on the opposite side of the river, in Newcastle. He died Sept. 
30, 1848. 

Sarah, born Feb. 2, 1775 ; married Dr. Ezra Dean, then 'of 
Berwick, Nov. 25, 1801. Dr. Dean lived many years in Bidde- 
ford. where she died August, 1811. 

Abigail, died aged about three years. 

David, born July 28, 1777; married Feb. 28, 1818, at Centre 
Harbor, N. II., the widow Eliza Little, whose maiden name was 
Bcardman, a native of Exeter, N. H. Ho remained at home, 
and lived on the homestead until his death, which occurred 
Sept. 19, 1854. He built the house now owned by his only 
son, Charles. He was a captain of the Buxton and Hollis 



216 APPENDIX. 

Light Infantry,^ and thereafter was always called by that title. 
His wife was born Jan. 16, 1781 ; died in Bnxton March 9, 
1863. 

Charles, born March 18, 1779. Graduated at Dartmouth 
College 1799, and was the first graduate of a college from this 
town. He studied law and settled in his native town. He 
built a two-story house which stood upon the site of Capt. 
John Lane's house, and where the house of Mr. Nathan Wood- 
man now stands. He removed from Buxton some years before 
his death, and died at sea April 10, 1851, on his way home 
from New Orleans where he had been to visit his sons, one of 
whom, John D., now lives in Buxton. He married Mary Daven- 
port of Newburyport. 

Rebecca, born March 31, 1781; married Pelatiah Harmon, 
Dec. 28, 1814. He was a trader at the Lower Corner, where 
he did a large business for that day. Pie removed from Buxton 
to Portland, where his wife died March 23, 1835. Her grave 
is in the old burying-ground on Munjoy's Hill. 

Susanna, born Feb. 20, 1783; married Joseph, son of Capt. 
Joseph Woodman, Oct. 25, 1813. He settled at Elden's Cor- 
ner, now Buxton Centre and began housekeeping in the Snell 
Wingate house, now owned by Mr. Adams. In 1823, he 
bought of Deacon Thomas Bradbury the farm now owned by 
Mr. Rufus Emer}^, where his wife died April 14, 1833. The 
house, now occupied by Mr. Emery, was built by the first Dea- 
cou Thomas Bradbury, who died there Nov. 9, 1803. It is the 
oldest house now standinsr between Buxton Centre and the 



ijNIr. Peter Emery writes to me that " The Buxton and Hollis Light Infantry was or- 
ganized sometime between 1806 and 1811. The first oflicers were Samuel Watts, Cap- 
tain, William Waterman, Lieutenant, David Coffin, Ensign. The ladies of Buxton 
presented the Company with a beautiful standard of colors in 1811. The Company 
was drawn up in front of Dr. Brewster's House. The standard was presented by Re- 
becca Coffin. She addressed the Company in a very appropriate speech when she 
delivered it to her brother, he being the standard bearer. AVhen he received it he 
made a very handsome reply in behalf of the Company, pledging themselves to the 
ladies that they would never see it tarnished, and would stand by it to the last extremi- 
ty in defence of their country's rights. Upon the whole, it was a grand affair. I be- 
lieve that there is but one man now living that then belonged to that Company, and 
that is Moses Dunn. The company [iu the war of 1812] was ordered to the Pool in 
Biddoford and there spent thirty days in defence of their country's rights." 



APPENDIX. 217 

Lou'er Corner, except the one now occupied by Mr. Jo,seph 
Garland.^ 

iS^atlianicl, born in July and died in August, 1785, 



V 

SANDS. 

There -was a James Sands, jr., here in 1742, but I do not find 
his name again. lie was, perhaps, the uncle of the James 
Sands who settled near the Gorham line, and V\'ho was born 
in 1746. 

The names of Epliraim and Thomas Sands first appear in the 
proprietor's records under date of March 29, 1754, and it ajv 
pears that they were then residents here. 

On the 9th of Feb., 1753, Thomas, then of Biddeford (Saco ?), 
bought Lot No. 3, on Range G of the 1st Division, and on the 
27th of Sept., 1762, he bought Lot 1, of said Range, and on the 
4th of Nov., in the last-named year, he sohl these lots to Col. 
Joseph, father of Rev. Paul Cofiin. It is not improbable that 
he lived on Lot 3. These two lots became a part of Rev. Paul 
Coffin's farm. 

His name appears as a signer to the paper in favor of calling 
Rev. Mr. Cofiin, in 1761, and it disappears from our annals in 
1762. 

I r.ra informed by the wife of Mr. Peter Emery, that Thomas 
and her great-grandfather, Ephraim Sands, Avere brothers. 

Ephraim Sands. The first man of this name in this town 
was a carpenter and noted as a hewer. Specimens of his work 
may still be seen in the house of Rev. Paul Coffin, now occupied 
by Mr. Joseph Garland, and in the house of Mr. Peter Emery. 
An existing manuscript states that he "v\'as born at Ipswich, 
Jan. 25, 1720, and died July 8, 1817, in the OSth year of his 
age." He died of old age while sitting on a stick of wood at 
the door of his son James, near Spruce Swamp. 

i>Ir. Garland has .died since the above was written. His father and grandfather 
were named John. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Joseph Woodman. 



218 APPENDIX. 

His first purchase of land in this town seems to have been 
on the 13th of June, 1755, he being then of this place, when he 
bought Lot 6, of Range G, 1st Division. This is I believe, a 
mistake for Lot 7, in the same Kange. Deacon Ilasaltine 
owned Lot 6, and there is no evidence that Mr. Sands ever 
owned Lot 6, except the above-mentioned deed, which came 
from "William Hancock, who never owned Lot 6, but did own 
Lot 7. A subsequent deed from Moses iVlkinson shows that 
Lot 7 was meant. 

It was on this Lot 7, 1 suppose, tliat he settled. 

On the 23d of February, 17C8, he bought of Daniel Lane and 
John Cole, " a small part, more or less, of the Sth Lot on the 
Letter G, adjoining to the land of Wm. Hancock, on the east- 
erly, and to the land of Ephraim Sands, on the northeast side, 
and lying by the road that goes by the land that John Lane^ 
now lives on." This small piece of Lot 8, is the westerly part 
thereof which is cut ofi" from the easterly part by Range E, — 
about three acres. See Dennett's maj?. 

All of the land above mentioned he conveyed Oct. 7, 1779, 
to Moses Atkinson, who sold it in 1784: to Ehsha Andrews, 

Until he sold to Atkinson he probably lived on Lot 7, by the 
well which may still be seen in the rear of the Spofford black- 
smith shop. 

In 1774, he bought the remainder of said Lot 8, namely tliat 
part of it which lies easterly of the meeting-house comuion. 

This easterly part of Lot 8 he conveyed, April 20, 1789, to 
his son, Ephraim, jr. 

On the same day that he sold his home at the Lower Corner 
to Atkinson, he bought Lot 19, of Range B, 2d Division. He 
previously owned a part of the adjacent Lot 18. 

He moved to this Lot 19, and had a house on it somewhere 
in the rear of Mr. Brice Boothby's house, as I am informed by 
his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Emery. He j^robably remained 
here until he left, to end his days Avith his son James. 

lie joined the Congregational Church July 31, 1803, and his 
a^e at that time stands recorded in the church records as 8*1. 

^Tliis shows wlicre Capt. Jolm Lane was living in 17C8. 



APPENDIX. 219 

Lydia Sands, who married Thomas Penuell Nov. 15, 1770, 
was his daughter. 

Ephraim, jr., Avas a blacksmith. He lived on the easterly 
part of Lot 8, which Avas conveyed to him in 1789, by his fother, 
as above mentioned. 

His house stood on the site of the house built by Dr. Royal 
Brewster, and now owned by Mr. John D. Coffin. 

As Ephraim, sr., bought this lot in 1774, and as Ephraim, jr., 
was married the same year to Elizabeth Stone (Aug. 11), and 
as the son afterwards lived on it, it seems probable that the 
father bought it for the son, and that the son settled on it soon 
after his marriage. He probably continued to reside there 
until he sold. 

He sold, it is said, to Dr. Brewster. 

In May, 1778, he bought Lot 4, Range E, 2d Division, and 
on the 21st of July, 1790, he bought the adjacent Lot 5, where 
he settled after he sold out to Dr. Brewster, and built the house 
now owned by his grandson, J. Dunnell Sands, and there re- 
mained until his death. • 

His blacksmith shop where he first worked was near the 
Spofford blacksmith shop. Afterwards he had a shop near his 
house on Lot 5. 

He married Elizabeth Stone, of Gorham, Aug. 11, 1774. 

Their children were : 

Joseph, born May 3, 1775. 

Samuel, born Feb. 15, 1777; married Mehitable Dunnell. 

Ruth, married Simeon G., son of 'Squire Jacob Brad- 

bury, April 28, 1805. 

Ejihraim,^ married Mary, daughter of 'Squire Jacob 

Bradbury, May 5, 1805. 

Benjamin, born Feb. 15, 1784. 

James, born Feb. 5, 1786 ; married Nancy Fendorson. 

Aphia, born Feb. 14, 1788. 

Elizabeth, born Feb. 10, 1790; married Asa Brown. 

iln the record of liis marriage he is called Ephraim, 4th. His fatlier and grandfather 
of the same name were then living. I have his signature. He then signed himself 
as the 4th. But who was Ephraim, 3d? 



220 ArPENDix. 

James Sands, tlie son of Epliraini Sands, senior, the caq^cn- 
ter, was born March 27, 1746, in Peppcrrellboroiigh, and mar- 
ried Lydia Fall, of Berwick, May 4, 1768. She was born April 
30, 1745. On the 19th of Feb., 1768, being then of this town, 
he bought Lot 12 of Range D, in the 3d Division. Dennett on 
his map places him on that Lot, and there I suppose he settled 
and made his home. 

His children were : 

Elizabeth, born May G, 1769; married Theodore Thompson, 
Feb. 19, 1786; died in Standish, April 15, 186G. 

Lydia, born Dec. 8, 1770; died Feb. 11, 1772. 

James, born Sept. 1, 1772 ; died Oct. 30, 1786. 

Mary, born June 19, 1774; married Simeon Jordan, Jan. 26, 
1792; died Feb. 30, 1835. 

Dorcas, born June 15, 1776; married Stephen Merrill, Feb. 
23, 1812 ; died in New York. 

Abigail, born Oct. 24, 1778 ; married Benaiah Ilanscomb, 
March 29, 1804; died in Buxton, Sept., 186G. 

Thomas, born Nov. 10, 1780 ; married Sarah Ilanscomb, Dec. 
4, 1803; died in Buxton, April 19, 1866. 

Lydia, born June 21, 1783 ; died July 28, 1783. 

James, born Dec. 8, 1787; died Oct. 5, 1802. 

John, born ■ 1789; married Anna Ilanscomb, June 5, 

1806; died in Boston, March, 1850. 



W 
EMERY. 

There was a man in this town by the name of James Emery 
as early as Nov. 9, 1759, for on that day, then being a resident 
here, he bought Lot 5 of Range B, 1st Division. This lot Capt. 
Jonathan Bean of the Block House (in Dayton) had bound 
himself to have settled. The adjoining Lot 6 he bought of 
Capt. Bean in 1757. He probably lived on these lots until 
July 0, 1765, Avhen he sold tliem to James Gray of Pepperrell- 
borough. 

In his deed to Gray he conveys both lots "together with my 



APPENDIX. 221 

dwelling-liouse and barn, it being the same lot of land where I 
now dwell." 

This may have been substantially a mortgage and perhaps 
he lived there some years longer. 

Mr. Daniel Dennett says, " There is a knoll of about one 
acre in the swamp on the northeast side of the road wo travel 
to Salmon Falls, that has the universal sign of being inhabited, 
a hole in the ground with apple trees about it. I could not 
find any one who could tell me who lived there." 

He also says, "The line between Lots 6 and 7 runs across 
the knoll. The snow being deep on the ground I cannot tell 
on which lot the house stood, but I think it would bo on Lot 
6. I think there is an old cellar on Lot 5, on the old JNLartin 
road, near where Caleb Hopkinson lived. 

One or the other of tliese old cellars jirobably indicates the 
spot where James Emery lived." 

Whether he was a relative of Mr. Thomas Emery who after- 
wards settled on Beech Plain I do not know. This is probably 
the James Emery who was a soldier at the Block House in 
1748, under Capt. Tliomas Bradbury. Benjamin Emery and 
Benjamin, junior, were also in his company at the same time; 
and all three were there in 1750, in the company of Capt. 
Jonathan Bean. 

A list of the children of the above-named James Emery and 
Mercy, his wife, as follows : 

"Mercy, born March 20, 1751 ; baptized July 5, 1752. 

" Daniel, born Nov. 30, 1752 ; baptized April 14, 1754. 

" Elizabeth, born January, 1755 ; baptized July 18, 175G. 

" Benjamin, born October, 17G1. 

"James, born 1763. 

" Charles, born June 9, 17G6; baptized June 29, 17G6. 

" Jerusha, born Jan. 7, 17G8. 

"Joshua, born Sept. 7, 1771. 

"Mercy Emery died November, 1813. 

" James Emery died 1821, in IloUis." 

Aug. 24, 1751, were married James Emery and Mercy Bean, 
both of Biddeford. She was, I suppose, the daughter of Capt. 
Jonathan Bean of the Saco Block House. 



99-7 



APPENDIX. 



Thomas Emery, of Biddeford, fatlicr of Thomns Emery of 
Buxton, bought land here as follows : 

1759, March 17, then being styled junior, he bought Lot 14, 
Range D, 1st Division. 

1769, Feb. 24, he bought ^ of the adjacent Lot 13. 

1769, March 24, he bought the adjacent Lot 15. These two 
lots and a half he conveyed, Nov. 21, 1774, to his sou Thomas, 
junior, then of Buxton, the Avholc containing fifty acres. 

1762, March 12, he bought Lot 14, Eange B, 2d Division, 
which he conveyed to his son Thomas, March 26, 1781. 

The first purchase by Thomas wlio settled on Beech Plain, 
was ten acres M'hich he bought of John Boynton, jr., black- 
smith, July 20, 1772, and was the southwesterly end of a lot or 
lots in Range E of the 1st Division. The record of the deed 
says Lot 14, but according to Dennett's map, which places 
Thomas Emery's house on Lot 15, the deed ought to cover the 
southerly end of the last-named lot, for Mr. Peter Emery writes 
to me as follows : "Myfiither always told me he bouglit the 
land and the buildings thereon where his house now stands, of 
John Boynton. My fiUher lived in the house he bought of 
John Boynton several years, and then he moved them off and 
built the house I occupy on the same spot." 

The deed from Boynton to Emery conveys the land " with 
all the buildings thereon." 

The records do notshovr that Mr. Boynton ever owned Lot 
15 or either of the adjacent lots, but the claim of title to many 
lots in Buxton is imperfect. Mr. Peter Emery says that his 
father moved to Buxton May 28, 1774, but the purchase of 
Boynton was nearly two years earlier. 

His next purchase was of one-half of Lot 15 of Range E, 
1st Division, Oct. 13, 1773. 

The other half, by the same deed was conveyed to Jacob 
Bradbury, jr., who on the 21st of June, 1777, conveyed it to 
Mr. Emery Avho thereafter owned the whole lot. 

On this lot he settled and built the gambrel-roofcd house 
now oAvned and occupied by his son Petei*. 

On the 6t!i of June, 1780, he bought the adjacent Lot 16, 



APPENDIX. 223 

and on tlie lOtli of November, 1791, he bought three acres from 
the southeast side of Lot 13, Range D, 1st Division, one-half 
of Avhieli lot had previously been conveyed to him by his fa- 
ther. 

Mr. Emery made his will May 9, 1781, and it vras j^roved 
June 20 of the same year. His wife was then living and he 
gave to her one-third jxart of his personal estate. The only 
children mentioned in his will are James, Ebenczer, and Thom- 
as. The others had, doubtless, previously deceased. 

To James, afterwards deacon, he gave one-half of the lot of 
land bought by him of Jordan, Pendexter, and Lewis lying in 
Biddeford, " being sixty rods in Avidth and adjoining the south- 
west end of the land I formerly gave him." To Ebenezer he 
gave the other half of this lot and his homestead ; also " one 
day in the lower saw-mill, so called, on Saco Falls, with all my 
stock, mechanical tools, and imjDlements of husbandry." To 
his son Thomas, of Buxton, he gave ten shillings which "with 
what I have heretofore given him is his full share of my estate." 

James and Ebenezer were the executors of the will. 

Mr. Peter Emery writes to me as follows : 

" Thomas Emery, my flxther, was born in Biddeford, Septem- 
ber 10, 1752; married Hannah Harmon, Nov. 27, 1773, and 
moved into Buxton, May 28, 1774. He was a tayloi-. 

"My father had two brothers, James the deacon, and Eben- 
ezer who lived and died on the home place. There was no sis- 
ter. We think our grandmother's name was Susan Hill." 

Col. Isaac Emery's knowledge of his grandfather's flxmily is 
even less than that of his brother Peter. I will state some 
facts which may interest them. 

Their grandfather, Thomas Emery, is said to have been born 
about 1712, perhaps in Kittery where tradition places the fami- 
ly in the early settlement of the country. He married in 1731, 
Susanna, daughter of Deacon Ebenezer Hill. About the year 
1730, he built a house next below the lower meeting-house in 
Biddeford, and in the vicinity of Church Point, where his son 
Ebenezer afterwards lived, as above mentioned. 



224 APPENDIX. 

They had cliildrcn, ns below named, and perhaps more. 

James, the deacon, born Nov. 22, 1738.^ 

Jonah, (so says Folsom, Hist. Saco and Biddeford). 

Joshua, baptized Feb. 19, 1743-4. 

Ebenczer, baptized June 15, 174G. 

Lois, baptized May 14, 1749. 

Thomas, baptized March 15, 1752. His son Peter says that 
he was born September 10, 1752, which would make liis bap- 
tism before his birth. He settled in Buxton. 

Nathaniel, baptized July 20, 1755. 

Susanna, baptized March 12, 1759. 

Tliomas- Avho settled in Buxton died on his homestead Oct. 
31, 1827. His wife Avas a sister of Maj. Thomas Harmon, who 
lived near Elden's Corner, now called Buxton Centre. She 
was born April 2o, 1754, and died January 17, 1844. He Avas 
cousin german to Nathaniel Hill and Snell Wingate, Avho were 
also born in Biddeford but settled and died in Buxton. 

Mark, the twin of Peter, died Dec. 23, 1813, and the funeral 
sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Coffin, Dec. 27, from the text 
to be found in the 6tli, 7th, and 8th verses of the 8th Chap- 
ter of Job. 

James Emery, blacksmith, of Charlestown, INIass., sou of 
Nathaniel W, and grandson of Deacon James, of Biddeford, 
has a list of the children of his great-grandfather, Thomas, but 
it does not contain the name of Jonah, mentioned by Folsom, 
and it omits Susanna. His list omits the date of birth except 
in the case of his grandfather, James. He has a comjilete list 
of the children of his father and grandfather. 

James Emery, Avho, according to Dennett's map, settled on 
Lot 16, of rtange A, 2d Division, was a nephew of Thomas, 



lit is doubUess this James wliose name appears in Cnpt. Joseph Woodman's muster 
roll in 1757. See Goodwin's Narraganset, page 60. 

^Children of Tliomas Emery and Hannah Harmon. Susanna Emery, born Nov. 29, 
1774. Nathaniel Emerj', born Feb. 23, 177C. Thomas, jr., born Jan. 2G, 1779. Hannah, 
boi-n July 7, 1781, and died July, 1783. Susanna, 2d, born Jan. 22, 1784. Sally, born 
May 19, 17S6. John, born Nov. 17, 1788. Joseph, born April 5, 1791. Isaac, born 
March 31, 1793. Peter and Mark, twins, born Feb. 24, 179Q. Dorcas, born June 5, 
1799, and died June 10, 1799. Mark P. Emery, Esq., of Portland, was named for the 
twins. The descendants of Thomas now number about three hundred and fifty.— Ed. 



APPENDIX. 225 

above uanied, and a sou of Deacon James of Biddeford. He 
was born March 31, 1772. He married Catliarine Freethy, and 
had children, IMary, Samuel, Alexander J., Jonas, Hannah, 
Thomas F., and James S. 

He was a deacon of the Congregational Church in Buxton, 
and died in 1840. 

[In regard to the family of Daniel Emery, and his father, 
James Emery, Daniel C. Emery, Esq., of Gorham, wrote me, in 
February, 1874: 

"Daniel Emery, my grandfather, was a revolutionary soldier 
from Buxton, and was with the expedition that went to Ticon- 
deroga. As ho died before the pension law was passed, his 
name does not appear on the pension list. 

" He Avas the son of James Emery, who came from Kittery to 
Biddeford, and from there came to Narraganset No. 1, and was 
one of the first settlers of the township. He took up a pai'cel 
of land on the southeast corner of the township near Narra- 
ganset No. 7, now Gorham, where he lived and brought up a 
large family. He died at the age of ninety years. 

"Daniel, when he came from the arm}^, bought a farm and 
lived near his father." It is the farm now owned and occupied 
by his great grandson, Frederick D. Emeiy. The original farm 
of James Emery is now owned by Mr. William B. Merrill, op- 
posite the farm of Frederick D. Emery. 

"Daniel Emery and his wife were firm adherents of Rev. 
Paul Coffin's church, being many years " Holy Covenant " mem- 
bers. They taught their children and grandchildren to rever- 
ence him as almost divine. When the good old doctor made 
his annual or serai-annual visit, the little ones stood in as much 
awe of him, as they would if St. Paul had ap2oeared." — Ed.] 

Since wiiting the above I have received a letter from Kev. 
Peter Libby in regard to James Emery, Avhich I copy in full. 

"Buxton Centp.e, May 11, 1874. 
To Cyrus Woodman, Cambridge, Mass. 

I herewith send you all the information I have of the James 
Emery mentioned in your letter. 

He came from the Block House, as the garrison was then 
o 



226 APPENDIX. 

called, that was located about half a mile below Union Falls, 
on the west side of Saco river, then called Philipsburg, now 
Dayton. It was where the inhabitants in the vicinity iised to 
live together to be safe from the ravages of the Indians. By 
some it was called Pisspocket. 

Ilis wife was Mercy Bean. They came to Buxton between 
the years 1760 and 1780 as near as I can calculate, and settled 
on Lot 4, Range C, 3d Division of lots; had jSve sons, Daniel, 
Benjamin, James, Charles, and Joshua ; four daughters, Mercy> 
Betsey, Sally, and Dorcas. 

I never learned of his nativity or of his ancestors. I never 
understood that he was related to the family on Beech plain, 
or any other of that name in town. He lived with his son 
Joshua on that same lot until about the year 1816, they re- 
moved to Ilollis about a mile above Barr Mills where he died. 
I do not know the date of his death. Of his grandchildren I 
do not think there is more than four of them living. There 
are quite a number of the fourth generation and some of the 
fifth now living. 

He was quite a famous hunter in those days, and it is proba- 
ble that he killed the moose while living at the Block House. 
He used to amuse us boys with his hunting stories and among 
others the ordination adventure. The story ran thus; that 
everything was ready for the ordination of Paul Coffin except 
a supply of meat to complete the feast, and that he took his 
dogs and hunted a moose, and that supplied the meat and 
therefore the ordination took place. He, therefore, would say 
that he went a hunting and caught a moose and a viinister. I 
have heard him repeat the story so often that I Avell remember 
it. 

After he was seventy years old he used to v/alk to meeting, 
a distance of more than three miles, on Sunday. I have no 
dates to refer to for any of the above but write only from recol- 
lection. I do not know of anything else of importance con- 
cerning him. Yours, etc., 

Peter Libey." 



APPENDIX. 227 

X 

DENNETT. 

Mr. Daniel Dennett says : 

You have asked for a brief genealogy of the Dennett pio- 
neers of Buxton ; I herein send you an abridged list of my an- 
cestors, which I have copied from records made in some old 
books. 

One entitled, "The Saints Everlasting Rest. London. 
Printed for Francis Tyton and Jane Underhill, and are to be 
sold at the Sign of the three Daggers in Fleet-Street and at 
the Anchor and Bible in Pauls Churchyard. 1662." 

This book and one entitled, "A Description of the New 
Born Christian," printed in a. d. 1620, together with a sword 
and other articles left with me by my father, were brought, 
says tradition, from England by John and Alexander Dennett 
to Portsmouth, N. H., where John was made a Freeman in 
1672, and died in 1710. 

Alexander died in 1698. 

Samuel Dennett, my great-grandfatlier was a blacksmith in 
Portsmouth, N. H., as appears from one of his account books 
which I now have. 

His children were : 

David, born March 15, 1727. Charles, born April 21, 1729. 

Lydia, born April 15, 1731. Hannah, born Aug. 2, 1733. 

Elizabeth, born Dec. 20, 1735. Moses, born Jan. 19, 1737. 

Lydia, born Feb. 23, 1738. Mary, born July 31, 1740. 

David Dennett, my grandfather, was a farmer. Married 
Dolly Downing of Newington, N. H. 

The following I copy from his day-book. It is in David's 
hand-writing. " Oct. the 3d, 1768, then we came from Ports- 
mouth; and the 5th day we came into Scarborough." 

Also in the same book, and in the hand-writing of his son 
John. 

" Enlisted in the Provincial service the 18th of January, 1776." 

My father has told me that he saw him leave his home in 
Scarborough, on foot, for Boston; carrying his gun. He never 
returned. 



228 APPENDIX. 

Children of David and Dolly Dennett : 

Lydia, born April 25, 1753. 

Samuel and Ebenezer, born April 25, 175G, died in infancy. 

Elizabeth, born Jan. 17, 1758; died Aug. IG, 1775. 

John, born June 13, 1760 ; died in Buxton, Feb. 15, 1817. 

Clement, born Jan. 10, 1763 ; died in Buxton, Aug. 10, 1841. 

Sarah, born March 7, 1766; married Lemuel Nutter; died 
in Buxton, July 26, 1836. 

Mehitable, born Jan. 7, 1768; died May 2, 1817. 

John and Clement Dennett moved from Scarboro' into Bux- 
ton, Dec., 1786, and settled on the Seven Hundred Acres (so 
calledj. 

Their mother came with them. Slie lived with Clement, 
and died in December, 1800. 

John Dennett niarried Betsey Gould of Saco, Feb. 16, 1781. 
She died Dec. 16, 1844. He died Feb. 5, 1847. 

Children : 

David, born March 2, 1785 ; married Betsey Nutter, of Bux- 
ton ; died Sept. 14, 1869. 

Sally, born Jan. 31, 1787; died Slarch 31, 1853. 

Eunice, born May 10, 1789; married Stephen Woodsum ; 
died Aug. 21, 18G0. 

Samuel G., born Jan. 19, 1791 ; married Betsey Cleaves and 
Betsey Sweat; died June 27, 1850. 

Polly, born Sept. 27, 1792 ; married Josiah Butterfield ; died 
Sept. 8, 1840. 

Betsey, born Sept. 12, 1794; married Vfilliam II. Severs; 
died Feb. 12, 1857. 

Patience, born July IG, 1797 ; married Samuel Bryant ; died 
Feb. 12, 1853. 

Phebe, born May 8, 1799 ; married William Pike ; died July 
3, 1871. 

Dolly, born Dec. 7, 1801 ; died August 21, 1807. 

Hariet, born Nov. 8, 1803; married John Elden,jr. 

Dorcas, born Sept. 27, 1805; married Daniel Libby. 

Clement Dennett, my father, married Mary, daughter of 
Samuel Leavitt of Buxton, Jan. 8, 1793. She died July 28, 
1863, aged 94 years and 14 days. 



APPENDIX. 229 

Children: ' 

Edmund Pliinney, born May 19, 179G; married Ana Libby 
and Mary Leavitt, both of Saco ; died June 28, 1870, in Saco. 

Olive, born Nov. 3, 1799 ; died Feb. 25, 1821. 

John, born April 27, 1802; married Fidelia Fogg and Sophia 
Stevenson, both of Saco ; died Nov. 10, 1852. 

Alvan, born Oct. 3, 1804; married Hannah Haley of Hollis; 
died in Porto Bello, S. A., July 29, 1838. 

Daniel, born May 31, 1807; married Abigail Gilpatric, of 
Biddeford. 

Oren, born Jan. 4, 1811 ; married Olive Woodman, of Bux- 
ton. 

Stephen, born Oct. 23, 1813; died April 18, 1822. 



Y 

WENT WORTH 

Ebenezer Wentworth settled the Wentworth farm near Bux- 
ton Centre about 1771. He was born December 7, 1748, at 
Berwick, Maine, upon the homestead of his great-grandfather 
Timothy, son of Elder William WentAvorth, Avho emigrated to 
this country from England, about 1639. When nineteen years 
of age Ebenezer came to Narragansct No. 1, and was employed 
by Rev. Paul Cofiin and lived in his family. About 1771, he 
married Jane, daughter of Lieut. Samuel Merrill of Narragan- 
sct No. 1, and commenced farming. His farm contained two 
hundred acres, and extended from Haines' meadow to Thomas 
Bradbury's (now Rufus Emery's) farm. He was enfraged in 
trade, kept a tavern and carried on the business of blacksmith, 
shoemaker, and manufacture of potash many years, and his ac- 
count books which are still in good state of preservation show 
that he had dealings with nearly all the settlers in town at that 
time. He also taught school in his own house and was a mem- 
ber of the first Board of School Committee in town, and con- 
tinued a member of the Board most of the time during the re- 
mainder of his life. He was town treasurer twenty-seven years 
in succession and held the ofiice at the time of hij death, which 



230 APPENDIX. 

occurred February 6, 1820. His wife died July 11, 1843, aged 
91 years. They united with tlie Congregational church in 
1779, and his membership continued more than forty years, and 
hers about sixty- five years. 

Their children were Samuel, Betsey, William, Paul, Eben- 
ezer, Robert, Sarah, Thomas, Daniel, and Jane, and two others 
who died in inf^mcy. 

Samuel was born July 2G, 1772, married Anna Keay of Ber- 
Avick, Maine, and settled in Browniield, Maine. He was one of 
the selectmen of that town for several years. He died at 
Brownfield, 18-45. His wife died 1833. 

Betsy, born 1779; married James Bickford^ of Buxton, and 
settled near the Pottery at the head of Haines' meadow. He 
died 1844, and his wife 1822. 

William, born 1776; married Betsey, daughter of Humphrey 
MerriU, 1803, and settled in Greenwood, Me. He afterward 
removed to Brownfield, v/here he died in 1865, aged 90 years. 
He was for a long time town clerk and treasurer of Brownfield, 
and deacon in the Congregational Church. His wife died 1853, 
aged 72 years. 

Paul, born 1779; married Sarah Field, of Hollis, and settled 
in Greenwood, Maine, where he was town clerk, selectman, 
justice of the peace, and represented the town in the State 
Legislature in 1829. He died Sept. 8, 1857. 

Ebenezer, born June 16, 1784; married Sarah L., daughter of 
Stephen Woodman, of Buxton, and lived in Biddeford, Maine. 
He died in New York City, 1853. His wife died there 1859. 

Robert, born Sept. 3, 1786; married 1816, Sally Harding of 
Buxton; June 27, 1832, Eunice Harding; 1850, widow Ann 
Folsom (daughter of Deacon Thoinas Bradbury) ; and 1862, 
Hannah D. Knight, of Calais, Maine. He lived on a part of 
the homestead of his father, where he died, September, 1806. 
He was town treasurer twelve years, town clerk seventeen 
years, justice of the i')eace, and representative to the legislature. 

Sally, born Dec. 25, 1788; married Michael Hanson, of Som- 
ersworth, N. H., removed to Waterville and finally to Palmyra, 
Maine, where he died 1849. His wife died in Bangor. 

Thomas, born 1791 ; married Rachael Townsend, of Ilollis, 



APPENDIX. ZOl 

Maine. He removGd from Buxton in 1820, to Foxcroft, Maine, 
where he was one of the selectmen six years. In 1835 he 
moved to Autwerj), Paulding Co., Ohio, where he now resides 
and is the only surviving son. lie has been county commis- 
sioner and justice of the peace, and was associate judge of the 
courts of Paulding County seven years. 

Daniel, born March 6, 1791; married Deborah Eldridge, Dec. 
17, 1817, and lived on the homestead in Buxton, Avhere his 
widow now resides. He was many yeai's a surveyor of land, 
justice of the peace, selectman, and town treasurer. He died 
May IG, 1852. 

Jane was born Dec. 25, 1795, was the youngest of the fami- 
ly and is now the only surviving daugliter. She married James 
Patten, of Kennebunkport, Maine, Avhere she now lives. 



Z 

BRADBURY. 

The name of Bradbury appears very early on the records of 
the pioneers in Narraganset, and the descendants claim rela- 
tionship with the larger portion of the native-born population 
of Buxton, even to this day. The name has maintained a high 
average of respectability among the Buxton kindred, and, 
farther back than the settlers on this continent, has a character 
worthy of notice in a more extended sketch than is possible to 
write here. 

A brief account of tlie Bradbury manor at Wicken Bonantj 
in England, was communicated to the late Capt. William F. 
Goodwin by England's distinguished genealogist, Miss Harriet 
Bainbridge, Kensington, London, England, and may be found 
on page 198, October No,, 1868, of the " Historical Magazine." 

"Mathew Bradbury " bought it of Robert Chatterlow, and 
" died seized of it in 1587. It continued in the Bradbury fami- 
ly until a default of male issue in the early part of the eight- 
eenth century, when Dorinda, daughter of one Matthew Brad- 
bury, carried it in marriage to Joseph Sharpe, Esq. 

"The Bradbury brick house at Wicken Bonant was built by 
W illiam Bradbuay, who died in 1622, for his second son "Wy- 



232 APrEXDix. 

mou or TVymond ; and continued in the second branch of the 
family till its extinction. Mr. Joseph Martin then owned it 
until about 18GG. At his demise it went to his son-in-law, Mr. 
John Pollit, who now owns it and resides there. 

The Bradburys of this country, especially of those Avho set- 
tled in New England, may trace their family in the following 
manner : Robert Bradbury, of Derbyshire, England, had a son 
William, of Braughing, who had a son Robert, of Littlebury, 
whose son Matthew was Lord of Wicken, His son Wymond, 
and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Whitgift, were 
the parents of Captain Thomas Bradbury known as "the emi- 
grant," who was born at Wicken Bonant, England, in 1610. 
He came to America as land agent and commissioner of Sir 
Ferdinando Gorges as early as 1634. lie settled in Salisbury, 
Mass., in 1636, and married Mary, daughter of John Perkins, 
of Ipswich, Mass., by whom he had Wymond, born Feb. 1, 1637, 
who married Sarah Pike. Judith, who married Caleb Moody. 
Thomas, born 1C40. Mary, who married John Stanyan. Jane, 
who married Henry True. Jacob, who died in 1669. William, 
who married Mrs. Rebecca Maverick. Elizabeth, M'ho married 
John Buss. John, born 1654. Ann, born 1656 ; died 1659, and 
Jabez, born in 1658 and died in 1677. 

Capt. Thomas was made a freeman in 1640, and Avas ap- 
pointed first clerk of the Avrits in S:ilisbury in 1641. In 1648 
he was appointed ensign of the train band at Salisbury, and in 

1650, he was appointed commissioner to end small causes. In 

1651, he was chosen deputy to the general court ; and again 
successively in 1652, 56, 57, 60, 61, and 66. In 1654, 56, 58, 
and 59, he was appointed on various committees to settle dif- 
ferences concerning lands, to fix boundaries and locate grants. 
Some of the earliest deeds recorded in York County, Maine, 
were made by him, acting as agent of Goi-ges.^ In May, 1657, 

iAq " Indenture " made the 5tli day of May, 1G36, between him and Edward John- 
son, may be seen in York County Records, Vol. 1, page 11, as follows: "Thomas 
Bradbury, Gent , no'.v a^ent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight, coulirraed unto Ed- 
ward Johnson for the proper use of John Treworzy of Dartmouth merchant, the use 
of 500 accors of land conditioned to pay annually 100 of Merchaudablo Coddo drido 
and well conditioned, as an acknowledgment of the Royaltie of Sir Ferdinando 
Gorges Knight, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges or his assigns at or uppon the Feast of St. 
Michaels ye Arch High Angel." 



APPENDIX. 233 

the law providing commissioners to end small causes, Laving 
been rejjealed, Mr, Bradbury was commissioned to bind over 
offenders in criminal causes. The same year he was a commit- 
tee to inquire if ministers' widows and orphan children were 
properly provided for. In May, 1660, he was chosen to settle 
some difficulties at Portsmouth requiring the intervention of 
the General Court. In April, 1668, he was appointed one of 
the commissioners of customs for N'orfolk county. In 1665, 6, 
7, and 9, he appears as one of the associate judges of Norfolk. 
lie died in 1695, March 16. His wife survived him until De- 
cember 20, 1700. During that mental epidemic, the witchcraft 
delusion, she was tried with twenty-one others and condemned ; 
but her exemplary character and life procured her acquittal, 
and years afterward the attainder was reversed.^ 

By the will of Capt. Bradbury made in 1693, he disposes of 
his property as follows : After giving small legacies to his 
daughters Jane True, Mary St.anyan, Judith Moody, and to his 
granddaughter Elizabeth Buss, he gives "all his lands and 
housing scituate lying and being within ye bounds of ye town- 
ehip of Salisbury " to his grandsons Thomas and Jacob Brad- 
bury (these were the sons of his son William), to be by them 
equally divided, and kept by them, and not to be disposed of 
by selling or letting, or otherwise, subject to a condition; that 
they were to free their brother William from all orders of court 
concerning their father's estate. 

Tlie will of his wife Mary, made in 1695, bequeaths all her 
property to her daughters, Mary Stanyan and Jane True. In 
neither of these wills are the names of Wymond or his heirs, 
or Thomas mentioned. All the sons, with, perhaps, the excep- 
tion of Thomas, died in early life. Wymond at the age of 
thirty-two; Jacob at the age of twenty; William at twenty- 
nine; John at twenty-four, and Jabez at nineteen. The de- 
scendants of Thomas, if indeed there were any, are not known 
to us, neither is it known whom or when he married, if ever. 
It is probable, that like his brothers, he made his home on the 
sea, and settled in some other and more congenial land. Wy- 

'See Mass. Archives, Vol. 133-1C9. 



234 APrEisTDix. 

mond married Sarali Pike, March 7, 1C61, by "wlioin he had : 
Sarah, born Dec. 26, 1661 ; married Abel Merrill in 1686. Ann, 
born Sept. 22, 1666; married John All, 1686. "Wyraond, jr., born 
March 3, 1669. Wymond,^ senior, died in 1669, on the Isle of 
Moevis. His widov/ married John Storkman. And Elizabeth, a 
daughter by this marriage, was the mother of the t^vo Buxton 
pioneers. Concerning tlie descendants of Wymond Bradbury, 
the Hon. James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, ex-senator from 
Maine, ■wrote me as follows: 

"May 27, 1874. The Bradburys in this country are all de- 
scended from a common ancestor. Thomas Bradbury, who 
emigrated from England in 1634, and settled in Salisbury, 
Mass. His oldest son, Wymond, was born Feb. 1, 1637, and 
from him our branch of the family descended," as follows : 
"Wymondj 1st son of Thomas, born Feb. 1, 1637. Wymond, 
son of Wymond, born March 3, 1669. John, the third son of 
Wymond, jr., born Sept. 9, 1697. Cotton, son of John, born 
Oct. 8, 1722. James, son of Cotton, born April 21, 1772, a 
physician. Dr. James, my father, settled in Parsonsfield about 
1801, and practiced medicine there over forty years. Some 
twelve or fourteen students jDursued their professional studies 
with him and several became eminent in their profession. 

Very respectfully yours, J. W. Bradbuky." 

Mr. Charles 0. Clark, of York, informs me that the town 
records of that town, agree with the statement of James W. 
Bradbury. 

John Bradbury, son of Wymond, married Abigail, daugliter 
of Lieut. Joseph Young; their children were: Cotton B., born 
Oct. 8,1722. Lucy, born Jan. 18, 1724-5. Bethulali, born March 
20, 1726. Maria, born April 5, 1729. Abigail, born Aug. 12, 
1731. Elizabeth, born Jan. 5, 1703. John, jr., Sept. 18, 1736. 
Joseph, Oct. 23, 1740. Ann, born June 2, 1743. Wymond B. 



'In a deed, made Oct. 7, 1720, in York County records, Wj-mond Bradbury to his 
"honored father, Wymond Bradbury." Jabez and John Bradbui^ are witnesses, aud 
in another deed, Wymond, senior, conveys to his son Jabez, of Richmond Fort. Wy- 
mond, jr., was a cooper. John was a jomer. 



APPENDIX. 235 

married Phebc Young, June 20, 1728; cliildren as follows: 
Susanna, born Jan. 26, 1729. Samuel, born March 2G, 1731. 
By his second wife, Mary Donnell, he had : Mary, born April 
30, 1734. Jacob and Thomas, twins, born at Brunswick Fort, 
May 8, 1736. Elizabeth, born July 6, 1738, and died the 30th 
of tlie same month. Cotton Bradbury, son of John, mariied 
Ruth Weare, and their children were as follows : Lucy, born 
June 20, 1754. Edward, born May 20, 1757. Daniel, born 
April 7, 1759. Betty, born Dec. 10, 17G0. Abigail, born Dec. 
16, 1765. Olive, born Jan. 3, 1768. Joseph, born May 1, 1770. 
James, born April 24, 1772. Ruth, born Oct. 19, 1774. Jacob, 
the third son of "Emigrant" Thomas, died at Barbadoes in 
1669, aged 22, probably left no heirs. William, the fourth son 
of said Thomas, born July 15, 1649 ; married Mrs. Maverick, 
by whom he had three sons. William, born 1672; married 
Sarah Cotton; Thomas, born in 1674, and Jacob, born 1677; 
married Elizabeth Storkman. These three received by tlie will 
of their grandfather, Rev. John Wheelwright, a portion of his 
estate in Lincolnshire, England, as well as that in New Eng- 
land. These were the children spoken of in the will of Capt. 
Thomas. 

William, jr., married Sarah Cotton ; their children were 
Samuel, and , twins, William, John, James, who married 

Elizabeth Sanders, Rebecca, Jacob, Joanna, Mary, born 1708, 
Sarah, born 1710, Crisp, born 1712, Benjamin, married Jemima 
True, and Barnabas. We have no record of the families of 
tliese last, with the exception of Crisp. lie married Mary 
Payne, Dec. 22, 1737, lived in York, then moved to Biddeford, 
and from thence to Newbury, Mass., where he died in 1753. 
He was a carpenter by trade, dealt quite extensively in real es- 
tate during his residence in York and Biddeford, Avas one of 
the proprietors in the Narraganset township, and di-ew Lot 26, 
Range E of the 1st Division, and Lot 15, Range D of the 2d 
Division, both on the right of Richard Swan. He also bought 
in 1738, of Moses Hale, Master of Arts, of Newbury, Lot 4, 
Range E, 2d Division, drawn on the right of John Asa, a Nar- 
raganset soldier. In 1743, then living in Biddeford, he was. 



236 APPENDIX, 

with Joseph Woodman, a committee to prosecute trespassers, 
cutting wood and timber in Narraganset township. He was 
not a settler here, in Buxton, at any time, and none of liis chil- 
dren were known to have settled here. Thomas, the other 
grandson, Avho married Jemima True in 1700, had no children 
by his first wife, by his second wife Mary, he had Jemima, 
born in 1703, another daughter, born in 1707, and, perhaps, 
others. lie died March 10, 1718. Jacob, who married Eliza- 
beth Storkman, lived in Salisbury. Their children were : 
Thomas, born in 1699. Ann, born 1701. Ann, 2d, born 1702 ; 
married William True. Elizabeth, born 1705 ; married John 
Stevens. Dorothy, born 1708. Jacob, born Oct. 6, 1710. 
Sarah, born 1713 ; married Elisha Allen. Moses, born 1715 ; 
married in 1737, Abigail Fogg; and Jane baptized August 
31, 1718, a posthumous child provided for in the will of her 
father who died May 4, 1718. 

Thomas, the oldest son, married Sarah Merrill, of Salisbury, 
in 1724, and lived there until he came to Biddeford about the 
year 1744. He had command of the Block House on Saco 
river during the years 1748 and 49. From this he has been 
called "Capt. Thomas of the Block House." His two sons, 
Jacob and Moses, and his brother-in-law, Elisha Allen, and his 
son-in-law, Samuel Merrill, were in his company. At the close 
of the Indian war he moved from Biddeford to Narraganset 
No. 1, and settled on Lot 1, Range A, 2d Division, where his 
son William afterwards resided. I find by the records of York 
county that he purchased two lots of land of Amos Chase, of 
Newbury, for the sum of £600 old tenor. The first was the 
first lot on Letter D, 1st Division, the lot laid out on the right 
of Moses Chase, and this deed mentions a dwelling-house 
thereon, which was probably the first dwelling-house in the 
town Avorthy of the name. This lot he conveyed to his son-in- 
law, Lieut. Samuel Merrill and his wife Elizabeth, and is the lot 
of land now owned in part by his great-great-grandson, Ansel 
Merrill, near Salmon Falls. The second lot was the lot laid out 
on the right of henery Bodwell, being the 4th Lot upon the 
Mainge F, 2d Division, whicli he afterwards conveyed to his son 



APPE15DIX. 237 

Moses,and which is the lot of land afterwards owned by Joseph 
Bradbury and now owned or occu2:)ied, in part, by Mr. Shirley 
Berry. Ho died about 1775. His children were : Elizabeth, 
who married Saral, Morrill, born 1727. Jacob, baptized in Salis- 
bury, Sept. 15, 1728. Moses, born February, 1730; married 
Mary Page. Samuel, born 1733. Thomas, born 1735. Wil- 
liam, born 1738. Sarah, born 1739; married in 1763, Joseph 
Leavitt of Buxton. Mary, baptized in Salisbury in 1744; 
married Samuel Sands of Buxton, Nov. 5, 17G7. Benjamin, 
baptized in Biddeford, April, 1744; married Mary Elden, of 
Buxton, July 9, 1767, resided near Bog Mills, Buxton, removed 
to Ohio about 1800, and settled near Cincinnati. Mercy, bap- 
tized in Biddeford in 1746; married John Appleton, of Bux- 
ton. Jabez, baptized in Biddeford in 1749. 

His son Jacob, married Abigail Cole, of Biddeford, and their 
children were : Anna, born 1752. John, born 1753. Ammi 
R, born 1754. Betty, born 1756. Lucy, born 1758. Abigail, 
born 1759; married Jere. Page, of Fryebnvg. Eunice, born 
1760. Ammi R., 2d, born 1762. Esther, born 1764 ; married 
Thomas Lord, of Freedom, N. H. Sarah, born 1765 ; married 
Robert Pago, of Fryoburg. Rebecca, born 1766. Jacob, born 
1769; married Jane Piper, and died in Parsonsfield. Molly, 
born 1772 ; married Joshua Hutchinson, of Buxton. Thomas, 
born 1775. The above were baptized in Biddeford. There 
were also, Joseph, Charles, Susan, who married Harvey, 

of Buxton, Olive and two others, making in all twenty. The 
last six were born in Limerick, where their father died in 1801. 
He moved to Limerick about 1780, and was the fii'st deacon of 
the church of that town. 

Thomas, the fourth son, married Ruth Pago, of Salisbury, 
Mass. ; intention of marriage published June 5, 1762 ; settled 
in Buxton and lived on the Rufus Emery farm. The house 
stood a little to the right of the road leading to the farm-house 
of Mark P. Emery. He was a prominent man in the town and 
held town office a great part of the time. He served as lieu- 
tenant in the Revolutionary war, was in the expedition to Ti- 
conderoga and Crown Point as his diary kept by him will show. 



238 APPENDIX. 

A part of a diary kept by Lieutenant Thomas Bradbury from Nov. 1, 
1776, to January, 1777, while on the expedition to the Lakes under the 
command of 

Nov. 4. Adjatent arested by Corl. Roberts for Sasey talk. 

Nov. 5. Drew 1 pound of bread. 

Nov. 6. Mount on the new score guard. 

Nov. 7. Drew 1 Pound bread. 

Nov. 10. Sonday. Orders for Captains and Sub'l. to give in whether 
thay wold ingage in the servis again or not, which I did in the negative. 

Nov. 11. Mounted Picket guard. 

Nov. 13. Mounted Main guard. 

Nov. 16. Went a hunting Down towards Crown Pint. 

Nov. 17. Drew 1 Pound of bread. Returned from hunting Without 
catching anything. We Saw the mountings about 40 miles to the N. 
E. of ticonderoga, which apeared to have a foot or more of Snow. 

Nov. 18. Orders to hold ourselves in CoUn"! Wigglesworths Kegm't 
in Pedeness to march to albany as soon as Bots ware Provided for us 
to Cary us over Lake george. 

Nov. 21. Orders from Coln'l James Roberts for our Rogm't to march, 
but countermanded bj* Coln'l Wane we did not march to-day. 

Nov. 22. A stormy Day tho Not Vary Cold. 

Nov. 23. The whol Rigm't went three miles up the South Bay and 
brought 50 cords of wood, and at Son set iuibarked on bord the boats, 
and at twelve O Clock at Nite landes at Skeensborough ; had no other 
shelter than a Blacksmith Shop, Notwith standing it was a Rainy nite. 
Skeensborough Is 30 miles from ticonderoga. 

Nov. 25. Marched from Skeensborough fourteen miles and Put up at 
Fourt Ann. 

Nov. 26. Marched from fourt ann fourteen miles and Put up at 
Fourt Edward. 

Nov. 27. Marcht 8 miles to fort miler. Saw a Sawmil which had 
fourteen saws went in one Geear, an other Geear that had 2 saws 
which slabed both sides of a log at once. Marcht from thence 8 
miles to Sarytoga and put up. 

Nov. 23. Marched 13 miles and put up at Stillwater. 

Nov. 29. Marched 13 miles to New Seaty and put up. 

Nov. 30. Marched 12 miles to Albany and put up in Albany. 

Dec. 1, 1776. Marched 18 miles and put up at Canterhook. 

Dec. 2 Marched 21 miles through nobel town and put up at Ea'ger- 
emtown, too Rogalleys Sat sail from hear this afternoon mounted ten 
carige guns each, are gon to Jyno the fleet down the Lake. Took on 
bord 42 Ingens and 50 white men which are going a skouting down to 
Unyen^ River. 

iMeauing, doubtless, Onion river. 



APPENDIX. 239 

Dec. 2d, Od, 4th, 5tla, 6th, Tth, 8th, and 9th nothing important. 

Dec. 10. Kichardson belonging to Coln'l Bonds Rigm't was found 
dead a small distance from the fort. Was desired by the adjutant to 
go to the funeral of Capt. Raymond's wife which was atended by most 
of the Fifers of this Brigade. 

Dec. 13. heard a heavy cananading Down the Lake this morning and 
saw a smoke and about noon We had news by a bot from Crown Pint 
that our fleet was Ingaged and ware retreating. That our men had 
set Crown Pint on fire and had left it, and about one of the clock a 
Skooner arrived hear which escaped from the enemy Who Informed 
us that our fleet was torn to Peecis and But five had escaped who all 
arived here one after another by a little after Dark. We do not know 
how many men we have lost, 7 of our men wear on board but 2 of 
Them have returned with the Fleet. 

Dec. 14. A flag of truce come up hear from the enemy's fleet last 
nite which brought 104 Prisoners and Delivered them up. Amongst 
whome was 3 of our men, Sam'l Harris Thos. Shaperd and William 
Sabesten By name. 

Dec. 15. Webster Simpson and Jacob Row Returned to the camp 
from the fleet in health. 

Dec. 17. Thos. Shaperd William Sabesten and Sam'l Harris were dis- 
charged and set out for home. 

Dec. 10. A man named Lankcster of our Rigm't was whipped Ten 
Lashes for Receiving some Chikens for Jineral Gates as a Present and 
selling of them. 

Dec. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28 of no interest to the reader. 

Dec. 27. Had newes of a late battle at new York, that the enemy 
come out against 2 of our Rigements with five to one. That the En- 
emy were Defected with the loss of 2 thousand, on receiving the news 
our army was ordered to man the lines and give three whase7-s. 

Dec. 23. this morning ware discovered seven sail of the enemys Fleet 
by our Guard boats an alarm was amediately Fired by 3 Canon in 
our Incampment, the whole ware called to armes and Lined the Brest 
Works, in about half an hour There appeared 3 sails one of which 
come within about a mile of one of our batterys. We fired six or 
Seven of Canon at her, one of which we thoat hit her and we heard 
sence by a Deserter From them that there was 2 killed on board. They 
amediately made off back again about one of the clock theor apeared 
eighteen boats within about 3 miles who went to the East shore wheth- 
er they landed or not is uncertain. Soon after thay come back. In 
the meantime the enemy ware landing on the west side and before 
Night thay all Disappeared. 

Dec. 29. Mounted Picket guard without the frencliline where we eu- 
campt the whole night. 



240 



APPENDIX. 



Dec. 30. A very hard frost Last night which froze the Ground hard. 
January 2, 1777. Mounted Main Guard at The Jersey Kadout. 
Jan. 3. By a scouting Party from our camp we are informed that the 
enemy have left Crown Pint and have gon Down the Lake, 

This is an old worn manuscript which was in the possession 
of his grandson, Thomas Bradbury, of Ilollis. I iiave made a 
literal copy of it, and his consent to publish it herewith. He 
died in Buxton, Nov. 9, 1803. His children were Jabez and 
Daniel, dates of birth unknown. Elizabeth, born June 29, 
1772. Thomas, born Oct. 7, 1778. Anna, born Aug. 13, 1785. 

William, the fifth son, married Susanna Hopkinson, lived in 
Buxton on his father's farm, being the one now owned by Mr. 
William Scribner. His children were : Samuel, Sarah, baptized 
Dec. 16, 1770, Susanna, Hannah, William, Betty, Lucy, Molly, 
and Dorcas, baptized Nov. 7, 1784. 

Jacob Bradbury, brother of Capt. Thomas of the Block 
House, married Abigail Eaton, of Salisbury ; lived in Bidde- 
ford and moved from there to Narraganset or Buxton about 
1753. He settled on Beech Plain road on Lot 12, Range D, 
1st Division, where his son " Squire Jacob," afterwards lived. 
He owned several of these lots in the township. Like his 
brother, Capt. Thomas, he was also prominent and ready in all 
matters relating to the development of the town. These two 
men with five others composed the first church in town. Dur- 
ing the latter part of his life, it is said that his mind became 
somewhat impaired, and in one of these sjiells of mental de- 
rangement he fell on the fire and was badly burned. He died 
soon after, in 1797, aged 87 years. His children were : Joseph, 
born in 1734. ]\Ioscs, born in 1736; killed in the French and 
Indian war. Jacob, born in 1737; died young, we sujipose, 
from the fact that another son was afterwards named the same. 
Elizabeth, born in 1738; married Stephen Palmer, of Buxton, 
in 1764. Abigail, born in 1741 ; married in 1763, Daniel 
Leavitt, of Buxton. Jacob, baptized in Biddeford, Maine, 
April 22, 1744. Hannah, baptized in 1746 ; married Joshua 
Heirl (Earl), of Berwick, who subsequently settled in Hollis, 
Maine. Joseph, baptized in 1748. Sarah, baptized in 1750 ; 
married in 1770, John Owen, of Buxton. Jabez, baptized in 



APPENDIX. 241 

1752. Mary, baptized in 1754; married Samuel Beard, of 
Scarborough, Maine. Elijah, baptized in 1757. Miriam, bap- 
tized in 1758; married Brice Boothby, of Buxton, in 1780, and 
Winthrop, born in 1763, tlie only one born or baptized in Nar- 
raganset No. 1. Nine of these children were baptized in Bidde- 
ford, and probably were born there; the first four were proba- 
bly born in Salisbury. Of these children, Elizabeth and Abi- 
gail lived in Buxton. Jacob, known as « Squire Bradbury " 
lived on and occupied the homestead on Beech Plain road. He 
is still remembered by the old men of the town, who speak 
reverently and aftectionately of him. He was a noble speci- 
men of a man. Majestic and dignified in appearance, of sterl- 
ing integrity and sound judgment, and, at the time when the 
office sought the man, and not the man the office, was elected 
by the people the first representative from Buxton to the gen- 
eral court of Massachusetts, which office he filled for a number 
of years, giving universal satisfaction. Though differing in 
political views from the majority of his townsmen, yet he was 
the object of universal confidence and trust by all classes. 
From the time of his arriving at the age of manhood, to the 
commencement of his last illness, more than thirty years, he 
was in constant employment of public business of some kind. 
He died in 1811. His whole tenor of conversation during his 
last illness was on the subject of religion. His last words, 
about tv.'o hours before he drew his last breath, were : " When 
I again awake, I shall wing my way to immortal bliss to re- 
ceive the crown of my rejoicing;" he then fell into a sound 
sleep from which he never awoke.^ His children by his first 
wife, Mary Goodwin, were : Moses, born April 12, 1767; mar- 
ried Mercy Garland. Martha, born March 8, 1769. Jacob, 
born Jan. 6, 1771. Edmund, born Jan. 31, 1773. Andrew, 
born Dec. 17, 1778. Simoon G., born Aug. 21, 1781. Molly, 
born July 27, 1782. By his second wife, Catharine Flint, he had 
William Flint, born Jan. 3, 1791. 

Joseph, married Patience, daughter of John Goodwin, of 
Kennebunkport; settled and lived in Buxton, on the farm nov/ 

iFi-om an extract from the PorUaud Trauscript, Nov. 4, 1811. 
P 



242 APPENDIX. 

owned by Mr. Shirley Berr3\ Their children were : John, born 
July 5, 1776; married Alice Tyler, and settled in Hollis. 
Joseph, born Dec. 29, 1777; married Ruth Libby. Winthrop, 
born Feb. 22, 1780; married Lucy McKenney. Jacob, 3d, 
born March 18, 1783. Martha, born Dec. 21, 1786; married 
Elias Libby. Mary, born June 24, 1788 ; married Amos Wood- 
man. Benjamin, born Aug. 1, 1791; married Jane Plaisted. 
Betsy, born Jan. 16, 1796; died an influit. Miriam, born Sept. 
26, 1798. Bricc, born Jan. 29, 1800. Joseph B., senior, died 
Sept. 7, 1819. 

Jabez, married first, Sarah Atkinson, of Buxton. Their chil- 
dren were: Joseph, jr., born Nov. 11, 1775; married Susan 
Crockett, of Gorham. Abigail, born ISTov. 10, 1780. Eunice, 
born March 27, 1783. Jabez, born Nov., 1784; married Eliza- 
beth Page. Mary, born March 27, 1787. Sally, born Dec. 17, 
1791. Betsey, born Nov. 13, 1794. Nancy, born March 5, 
1800. Sarah, the mother, died July 2, 1807. 

By his second wife, Mrs. Mary Billings, there were Enoch 
Billings, born Nov. 16, 1809. Caroline, born Nov. 20, 1811. 

Elijah married Sarah, daughter of Capt. John Lane, Dec. 
16, 1779, lived in Buxton, on the farm now occupied by Mr. 
Stephen Watson. Their children were : 

Elizabeth, born Sept. 14, 1780 ; married James Palmer, of 
Ilollis. Sarah, born April 5, 1782. Elijah, jr., born March 28, 
1784. Abigail, born July 31, 1786. Isaac, born Jan. 11, 1787. 
Anna, born Jan. 2, 1789, and Jabez, born Sept. 22, 1790; 
married Anna Maria Knight, of Calais, Maine, in 1815; settled 
in Ilollis. Jabez B. was an enterprising business man in that 
toAvn for many years, and a member of the Legislature of 
Maine in 1834 and 1835, and was a member of the Governor's 
Council in 1836. 

He died of small-pox in 1836. 

AVinthrop married Susanna Ilazletinc, Sept. 8, 1785. 



APPENDIX. 243 

TWENTY-SEVEN. 

IIOBSON. 

We take it for granted that the reader was introduced to 
John Hobson, of Rowley, Mass., in tlie Historial Discourse at 
the first part of this work. 

In the first division of Lots he drew on Range B, Lot 
10, on the right of Thomas Brown and Lot 12, on the right 
of John Woodin. On Range E, lie drew Lot No. 2, on the 
right of his father, John Hobson, a Narraganset soldier, and 
Lot 19, on the right of Joseph Rose. In the second divis- 
ion of lots he drew on Range A, Lot 9, on the right of John 
Woodin; and on Range D, Lot 8, on the right of John Hobscm. 
But he does not appear to have ever been a settler here. Au- 
gust 9, 1738, he conveyed to Moses Retor, of Newbury, Mass., 
Lot 10, Range B, 1st Division. Said Retor was conditioned in 
said deed to build a house on said Lott, 18 feet square, culti- 
vate four acres of laud, and continue to dwell on the same 7 
years; but the land to be cleared within the space of one year. 
Moses Rittor, by deed dated March 18, 1642, in consideration 
of 100 lbs., public currency, conveyed this lot to Jacob Davis, 
of Biddeford, and describes it as Lott N'o. 11. And this mis- 
take was the occasion of a long lawsuit, the result of which 
would require more space than we have to detail it. The same 
lot was soon after occupied and owned by Capt. John Elden, 
and is situated on the road from Salmon Falls to Union Falls, 
near Pleasant Point. No. 12 afterwards, I think, owned by 
Joseph Woodman, near Pleasant Point, now owned by his 
great-grandson, Cyrus Woodman, Esq. Lot 2, Range E, sit- 
uated near Buxton Lower Corner, now owned by Mr. Nathan- 
iel Milliken. No. 19 was on Beech Plain below Peter Emery's. 
Lot 9, 2d Division, Range A, now owned by heirs of the late 
Stephen Lane, of Buxton. The Hobsons who settled in Bux- 
ton, did not occupy either of these lots. Samuel settled, or 
lived, in 1800, about a mile down the river from West Buxton 
village, near the house of Mr. Benjamin Partridge. 

Joseph settled on Lot No. 1, Range D, second Division. The 



244 APPENDIX. 

land is now owned, I think, by Charles Ilobson, one of the 
grand children of Samuel. 

Rev. J. M. Bailey, of Saco, furnishes a genealogical sketcli 
as follows : The first Ilobson in this country of whom we have 
any authentic account, came over from England and settled in 
Rowley, Mass., about the middle of the seventeenth century. 
His name was William. He married Ann Reynor, by whom 
he had three sons: Humphrey, born 1655. John, born 1657, 
and William, born 1659. 

Second Generation. Humphrey married Elizabeth North- 
end, 1683, by whom he had one sou, Humphrey, born 1684. 
The father died the same year, aged 29. John was a Narra- 
ganset soldier in 1675. He married Sarah Varnum 1679, and 
had one son, John, born 1680. John, senior, died in 1683, aged 
25. 

TFiV/iam, married Sarah Jewett in 1692. Their children were : 
William, born 1693, and died an infant. Sarah, born 1695. 
Mary, born 1699. William, born 1701, and died 1727. Martha, 
born 1703. Caleb, born 1705, and died 1700. Jeremiah^ born 
1707. William, senior, died 1725, aged 66. 

Third generation. Humphrey, married Mchitable Payson, 
1712. Children: numi)hrey, born 1718. Samuel, born 1728, and 
two daughters. John^ of Narraganset fame, was a member of 
the Massachusetts Legislature twenty years, was committee of 
the Legislature on the Narraganset township, and was clerk of 
the Rowley company that settled it for ten years, was speaker 
of the House in 1741. He married, first, Dorcas Pearson, 1699. 
Their children were : Hepsabah, born 1700. Humphrey, born 
1702, and died 1704. Moses, born 1704. John, born 1707, and 
died 1719. Losing his wife, "Hon. John Hobson, Esq., mar- 
ried Mrs. Mehitable Hidden" in 1757. He died in 1770, 
aged 90 years. He made his will the year before and speaks 
of himself as " old in years but of sound mind." 

Jeremiah married Jane Dresser, 1729. Children : William, 
born 1730. Ann, born 1732. Josejih, born 1734, and died an 
infant. Elizabeth, born 1730. Joseph,' born 1738. Sarah, 
born 1740. Jeremiah, died 1741, aged 34. 



APPENDIX. 245 

Fourth generation. The last family is tlic one in which we 
are more especially interested, as William, the oldest son, was 
the oldest settler of Buxton of that name. He married Hannah 
Johnson, 1753. Children: Jeremiah, born 1754. Hannah, born 
1756. His wife dying in 1757, he married, secondly, Lydia Par- 
sons, 1759. Children: William, born 1760, and died. Joseph, 
born 1762. Samnel, born 1763. Andrew, born 1765. Lydia, 
born 1768. He lost his second wife and married again. His 
third wife died in Buxton before he did. 

In the French and Indian war William belonged to the first 
cavalry company of Ivowley, and his brother Joseph to the 
second company of Foot. William enlisted again in the latter 
part of 1759, and Joseph re-enlisted for the total reduction of 
Canada in 1760. The war closed in 1763. Joseph was drowned 
1768, aged 30. William was a soldier in the revolutionary 
war, was wounded and taken prisoner at King's Bridge by the 
British and carried into New York city, where he remained a 
prisoner of war for eleven mouths. But afterwards, he Avas at 
the surrender of Burgoyne and had the pleasure of marching 
into the city at its evacuation. He died in Buxton 1827, aged 
97. His oldest son, Jeremiah, was in the battle of Bunker 
Hill. 

Fifth generation. Of the sons of William, Jeremiah settled 
in Amherst, X. II. Andrew went to New York, and Joseph 
and Samuel settled in Buxton when young men, and became 
the progenitors of the two families of Hobsons in Buxton and 
vicinity. Joseph married Kebecca Sawyer of Buxton. Their 
children were : Joseph, born 1788. Jabez, born 1790. Lydia, 
born 1793. x\ndrew, born 1795. Jeremiah, born 1797. Re- 
becca, born 1800. James, born 1802. Joanna, born 1804. 
Adeline, born 1808. Josepli, senior, died 1830. 

Samuel married Rachel Lane, of Rowley, 1788. Children : 
Samuel, born 1789. Betsey, born 1792. Rachel, born 1793. 
William, born 1796. Amos, born 1799. Joseph, born 1801. 
Nancy, born 1803. Thomas Mighil, born 1805. Alvan, born 
1807. Enoch Billing, born 1807. 

This closes the family histoiy jjortion of the appendix. 



246 



APPENDIX. 



There are some not reported and not sufficiently authentic for 
this purpose. The Rounds fjxinily, of early fame in town, will 
be found fully reported in Goodwin's Narraganset, pages 241, 
242, and 243. To Cyras Woodman, Esq., belongs the credit 
of contributing the larger part of the foregoing sketches. He 
has been aided in the work very little by resident descendants 
of the pioneers; some considerable by the papers of Capt. 
Goodwin, as he says, and by Daniel Dennett, and from what 
records and local gleanings the editor had been able to gather. 
Rev. J. M. Bailey, of Saco, gave the genealogy of the Hobsons, 
and Mr. Eben Wentworth, of Portland, contributed the Went- 
worths, and I acknowledge the aid of the papers of Capt. 
Goodwin in furnishing some data of the Bradbury fomily, 
through the kindness of Cyrus Woodman. 

It will be noticed that Buxton was settled mainly by de- 
scendants of English emigrants, who, induced by two such mo- 
tives to leave their native land, as the monarchical restraint 
imposed upon them at home by Charles the First, and the 
glowing reports they were constantly receiving of the new 
country, rallied with youthful enthusiasm to the standard of 
that liberal and philanthropic governor, and true Father of 
American Colonization, Ferdinando Gorges. And his extensive 
grant and benign policy opened up the long coast of New Eng- 
land to the worthy progenitors of our line. Very few, hoAV- 
ever, of the descendants of the Narraganset soldiers settled in 
Buxton. 

The settlers "were purchasers of their rights, and, though the 
majority of them were probably poor, a part of them it was 
said left homes of plenty and comparative ease, to strike out 
anew 'mid the dark forest of Maine, the homes loved and left, 
of the retreating Sokokis, near the banks where 

"The Saco forth from Ilampsbire's granite steeps 
Rolls down in chainless pride." 



APPENDIX. 247 

AA 

SACO BLOCK HOUSE. 

Charles Coflin, Esq., says: "The first settlers established 
themselves in the lower part of the town, not because the soil 
was more productive, but because Saco was their only market, 
and because it placed them in the vicinity, and under the 
protection of the fort situated on the river in the town of 
Hollis, two miles below the Salmon Falls (for many years 
commanded by Capt. Thomas Bradbury), and because the 
conveyance and travel for many years by water was much 
easier than by land, as good roads at that time were not made 
in a day or year." 
\ In regard to this fort see Folsom's History of Saco and 
Biddeford, pages 222, 248, and also Goodwin's Narraganset, 
page 132. Mr. Lane in his letter to Capt. Goodwin, which will 
be found on said page 132, says that the cellar of the fort is 
"still to be seen" (1871). In this he erred. At the date of 
his letter neither cellar nor any vestige of the fort was visible 
as I know from personal insj^ection prior to the date of his let- 
ter. The site, as shown to me by Mr. Daniel Dennett, was 
northerly from and adjacent to the graveyard, but a little nearer 
to the river bank than the graveyard. 

This " fort " was commonly called the " Saco Truck House " 
or " Saco Block House." 

Mr. Folsom says, page 248 : " Capt. Jonathan Bean, cf York, 
succeeded Bradbury in the command of the Block House ; his 
son was likewise lieutenant of the company stationed there. 
The establishment continued to be kept up until 1759, Avheu 
the soldiers were disbanded, and the cannon, of which there 
were several small pieces, were transferred to Castle William in 
Boston harbor. The Block House was not designed for the 
defence of the inhabitants but as a storehouse for supplying 
the Indians with goods, at a f^iir price, in time of peace ; it was, 
however, used for the former purpose. The principal building 
was enclosed by a strong picket wall with flankers, leaving 
sufficient space within the premises for a house to contain the 
stores and for a parade ground. No remains of the buildings, 
except the foundation, are now (1830) visible." c. "w. 



248 APPEISDIX. 

BB 

DENNETT'S MAPS. 

Dennett's map 1870 (publislacd 1871) shows the lots into 
which Buxton Avas originally laid out. The original maps of 
the four different Divisions into which the tOAvn was surveyed 
are not to be found, except a part of the 2d Division map, 
which is in ray possession. Mr. Dennett's map, as he states, 
is based upon one made for the proprietors in 1793, which was 
found by him in Saco, It is now in the office of the selectmen 
and should be carefully preserved as the most authentic map 
now in existence, of the whole town, as originally surveyed. 
When Mr. Dennett published his map there Avere but few men in 
town who had ever seen a map shov/ing the lots into which the 
town was originally divided, or who could tell upon what lot 
and range they lived. Tlie early settlers were perfectly familiar 
with all these sub-divisions, but their knowledge of tliem came 
down to very few of the present generation. Even Mr. Den- 
nett, though for many years a surveyor, never knew how the 
whole town was sub-divided, until a few years since, for until 
then no map showing the lots had ever come under his. eye. 

Without such a map and without the proprietors' records 
one cannot intelligently trace back to the first owner the title 
of the land on Avhich he lives. 

Now, thanks to the unrewarded labor of Capt. Goodwin and 
of Mr. Dennett, the proprietors' records and tlie map above 
mentioned have been printed and so M'idcly distributed that 
there is no longer any danger that the facts which they record 
will be lost. 

Mr. Dennett's map gives us not only a knowledge of how 
the town was sub-divided, but it shows us the sites of the 
residences of many of the early settlers whose houses no long- 
er exist, and Avliose names even were almost forgotten. This 
knowledge was obtained by Mr. Dennett by personal examina- 
tion and inquiry in all parts of the town, and is the result of 
long and patient effort on his part. 

The native of Buxton who is ignorant of this map is igno- 
rant of the history of his birth place. 



APPENDIX. . 249 

Since my address was delivered he has published another 
map, tlie result of his survey of the town in 1852-3. It shoAvs 
the residence and gives the name of every head of a family 
then living in town. 

Few towns in New England can show maps which tell so 
much of their history as do these two maps of the history of 
Buxton. 

Though Mr, Dennett may fail to reap any pecuniary reward 
for the service which he has thus rendered his native town, yet 
he cannot fail of that better reward Avhich comes from the 
consciousness of having done a good work well. 

His name will remain as a benefactor of his town, and his 
maps will be his monument long after his grave shall have been 
forgotten. 

The field notes of his survey in 1852-3, are more valuable 
than the maj) even, and the printer's art should bo used to save 
them from the peril to which what is in manuscript only is 
ever subject. 

A few errors have been discovered in the maps, many less, 
however, than might reasonably be expected. It is proper to 
note them here. 

Map of 1870. A. L. Came, Esq., says: "Eli Cole by Bonny 
Eagle Pond should be Nat Cole, and on the road leading north 
between Ranges L and K, Joshua Ilawkes and Dan Kimball 
should change places." It was not intended to put on this 
map the names of persons who settled after 1800, but Tristram 
Eaton settled in 1808, where he now lives, and Thomas Emery 
in 1802 on Lot 13 of Range B, 2d Division." 

Map of 1852-3. Mr. Dennett says: " Jabcz Elwellliving 
on the road from Buxton Lower Corner to Gorham is spelled 
on the map Jobez. On the road leading from Gen.AVaterman's 
to Phineas Harmon's, Elijah Owen's name is not on, but the 
house is on the map near Little River. Jonathan Coolbroth 
lived ut the corner called Coolbroth's Corner, but not at the 
time I made the survey. Lemuel Merrill's name is not affixed 
to the house Avhich is nearly opposite to C. Parker, near Kim- 
ball's Corner. The road leading by Charles Atkinson's at the 



250 APPENDIX. 

Gore, should extend to the east corner of the toAvn. Ilill El 
den on Buxton road, near Nathaniel Hill Elden should be S. 
H. Elden ; Simon Hustin Elden, I suppose. lie ■went by the 
name Hustin. 

I have looked the ma}) over carefully and find no other 
errors." c. w. 



CC 

BRIDGE AT SALMON FALLS. 

A bridge across the Saco was begun at Salmon Falls in Sep- 
tember, 1791, and j^robably finished the same fall. 

It Avas built by subscription. The subscription list is before 
me and reads as follows : 

" Whereas among other important objects contemplated in 
society for the General utillity, The accommodating of Com- 
munity with convenient Ways & Bridges for passing from one 
Town or part of the Country to the other may Justly be es- 
teemed one of the greatest, — And Whereas the Local situation 
of the inhabitants of the Counties of York & Cumberland, to- 
gether with the connection of those Counties and that part of 
the Country more easterly & westerly, and from a Geograph- 
ical view of the situation of the Country. It Aauy evidently 
appears that many inconveniences to travellers from the east- 
ward or Avestward might be remedied by Laying out & open- 
ing Roads from Waterborough through Cooks Right so Called 
in the Plantation of Little falls to Salmon falls mills on Saco 
River, and that if such measures Avas adopted to Carry the same 
into effect it Avould be of General Utillity, and, therefore, of 
Great importance to the District of Maine. 

And, therefore, to Encourage such an undertaking and fur 
the purpose of building a Bridge Over The s'd Saco River at 
or near the said Salmon fiills Mills — We Avhose names are here- 
unto Subscribed do hereby promise to pay on demand to Major 
Samuel Jordan, Mess"- John Woodman, CadAvallader Gray 



APrElSTDIX. 251 

& Isaac Lane or the Major Part of them as a Committee 
or undertakers to Carry into Execution the building said 
Bridge such specific sums as is subjoined to our respective 
names, provided Sufficient sums shall be Subscribed and appro- 
priated therefor. Given under our hands and signed by us, 
&c. 

Buxton 25 of May, 1791. 

John Woodman Four Dolls cash and Five Galls N. 

E. Rum £2.04.0 

Joseph Ilobson Three days works on the Bridge 12.0 

Richard Palmer Six Dollars in Avork 1.16. 

Paul Coffin jur. Six Gallons N. E. Rum 1.04. 
William Bradbury eight Dollars in work on the 

Bridge 2.08. 
John Fenny Twelve shillings in Labor on the 

Bridge 12. 

Jabez Lane Four Dollars in Goods 1.04. 

Joshua Kimball in Goods and Labor 2.08. 

Thomas Atkinson Eight dollars in Labour 2.08. 

Isaac Lane £6 i>aide in Labour 6.00.0 

Saml. Merrill jur. 4 pound in Labour 4.00.0 

Chase Parker 8 shillings in Lab 0.08.0 

Samuel Leavit four Days works myself and oxen 13.4 

Isaiah Brooks Twenty shillings in Labour 1.00.0 

Thomas Harmon Twelve shillings in Labour 0.12.0 

James Woodman twenty shilling in Labour 1.00.0 

Benja Bradbury Twelve shillings in Labour 0.12.0 

Jacob Bradbury in work 1.04.0 

William Cole Twenty shillings in Lumber 1.00.0 

William Andrews Twelve shiling paid " 12.0 
The form of subscription is in the handwriting of Hon. John 

Woodman, as is also an account of the work done on the 

bridge. The account of what seems to have been the first 

day's work is as follows : 
"1791. John Woodman 1 D. self 1 D. Boy 1 day ox 9.8 

Sep-r 12. Thorn Atkinson 1 D. Tom 2 D. oxen 9.4 

R. Palmer 1 D. self 2 D. oxen 9.4 



252 APPENDIX. 

C. Gray 1 D. Rob. 1 D. oxeu 6.8 

Job Roberts 1 D. Boton 1 D. oxen 6.8 

Jo. Jordan 1 D. self 1 D. Ciitt, 1 D. oxen 9.8 

Josli'a Kimball ^ D. ox 1 4 1.4 

Capt. Woodman 2 Qts rum 2.6 

Isaac Lane 1 Qt rum 1.3 

Nat Woodman ^ Day 2. 

Paul Woodman 9.8 

Isaac Lane 1 Qt. rum 1.3" 

c. w. 



DD 

WILLIAMS' CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

The Rev. Nathaniel West Williams in 1850, delivered an 
address on the occasion of the First Centennial Celebration of 
the settlement of Buxton. 

Mr. Williams was not a native of the town nor fimiliar with 
its history. Under the circumstances his address is creditable. 
There are a few errors in it which may as well be corrected 
here. 

On page 12 he says : " But no settlement was attempted till 
1740 or 1741, when Deacon Amos Chase, from Newbury, 
Joseph Simpson, Nathan Whitney, with Messrs. Gage and 
Bryant entered the plantation and began to fell the trees and 
build log cabins for shelter." As authority for this statement, 
he refers to the proprietors' records, where nothing is to be 
found to justify it. This was undoubtedly an accidental slip 
of his pen. Tradition v>'as his authority. 

On page 14, he tells us, on the authority of Deacon Thomas 
Merrill, that seven persons, naming them, moved into town in 
the fall of 1750. Facts of record, combined with this tradi- 
tion, make it reasonably certain that all of the seven except 
John AVilson were here in 1750, and no fact militates against 
the tradition that he too was here. These were not all that 
came in that year. 



APPENDIX. 253 

In a deed dated Aug. 6, 1750, Joseph "W"oodman and his 
brother Joshua are both described as tlien of Narraganset 
No. 1. 

On the 13th line of pnge 14, is the name James Thomas. 
Putting a comma, as we shoukl, between James and Thomas 
we have the following : 

"In the lapse of nine years after, James, Thomas, and 
Ephraim Sands with seven others moved into the settlement." 
The inference is that only ten persons or families settled in 
town during these nine years. I have found no evidence that 
James Sands was here during these nine years, but, leaving 
him out, Goodwin's Narraganset shows, within the nine years, 
tlie names of more than twenty men, besides the first seven, 
who claimed this town as their residence, and probably these 
were not all. 

On the same page, fifth line from the bottom, we have 2>e«con 
Merrill instead of Lieut. Merrill, wlio, probably, was never a 
member of any church. 

On page 15 it is said that " it is a fact worthy of note that 
when the township was granted, above half of those to whom 
it was assigned, and who were in the Narraganset war fifty 
years before, were still living." This statement lie doubtless 
obtained from a manuscript of Charles Coffin, Esq., now in my 
possession. Mr, Coffin without doubt erred in making this 
statement. It is not credible, and I know no authority for it. 

On the same page, Rebecca Woodman is called the daughter 
of Ca2:>t. John Woodman. It should read Capt. Joseph. 

On page 17, " the first military commanders" are named, but 
the name of Joseph Woodman is omitted. He was the first 
military Captain. See Goodwin's Narraganset, page 65. 

On page 17, at the foot, for Projyrietor^s Records read Toicn 
Records. 

On page 19 for Joshua Leavitt, read Joseph. 

On the same page he speaks of the meeting-house which pre- 
ceded the present one at the Lower Corner as " the third meet- 
ing-house." For third read second. 

On page 20, before the word Saco insert the. 



254 APPENDIX. 

On page 26 lie says that "the first mills on Saco river above 
Salmon Falls were built at Moderation Falls in the year 1795, 
and the first at the Bar shortly afterward." I have written 
contemporaneous evidence showing that the dam at the Bar 
Mills was built in 1795, and that the first saw-mill there, on 
the Hollis side, was raised Sept. 10, 1795, and I have reason to 
believe that the first saw-mill there on the Buxton side was 
raised in the same year. There is one person now living (Jan- 
uary, 1873) who was present at the raising of the first mill (a 
saw-mill) at the Bar on the Ilollis side, and that person is Mr. 
Tristram Eaton, Avho though feeble in body is sound in mind 
and with a remarkably clear and distinct memory. 

He confirms the statement that there was a saw-mill at 
Moderation before there was one at the Bar. It was erected 
by Nathan Elden and others. 

He says that there was a saw-mill near the mouth of Haines' 
Meadow Brook, near the house of D. Libby Palnicr, before 
any were erected at Moderation or the Bar. 

On the same page is the traditionary statement that the first 
glass window in the plantation was procured by Rev. Mr. Cof- 
fin. The permanent settlement of the town had been in prog- 
ress more than ten years when he came here, at which time 
tradition says, and it is reasonable to believe, that there were 
thirty families in town. It is incredible that there was then 
not a glass window among them all. It is quite probable that 
he bought the glass as stated, but the story that there was none 
in town before is not Avorthy of belief He speaks of the first 
school as having been kept in the winter of 1761-2. I have 
shown elsewhere that Mr. Moody entered town to kcc}) school 
Aug. 20, 1761. 

On page 29, it is stated that " a person now living among us 
relates that the slave suffered for want of suitable lodging and 
food, being obliged to sleep in the chimney corner in cold win- 
ter nights, and sometimes, impelled by hunger, he had to come 
to her father's shed and eat the crusts that were reserved for 
the swine." "Who Mr. AVilliams' authority for this story was I 
do not know. Possibly the story is true, but it is not credible, 



APPENDIX. 255 

anil I do not believe it. There was probably food enough, 
such as it was, even in the hardest years, to prevent hunger ; 
and if the slave suffered for food, doubtless the white folks suf- 
fered too. Besides, there was never any such slavery in Buxton 
as to prevent a slave, if abused, from getting into families 
where he would not be abused. In that community where 
democratic equality was the rule, a sense of justice and equality 
would have prevented the abuse of a negro, at least that con- 
tinued abuse which the words I have quoted imply. Besides, 
if ti'ue, it is not to the credit of the narrator's family that they 
allowed a poor starving negro to eat the crusts from the swill- 
pail when food was plentiful enough to allow the crusts to be 
so disposed of That the negro ate from the swill-pail is not 
improbable. He was probably not fastidious, and, like a child, 
would eat from home what he would not eat at home. 

As to sleeping in the chimney corner that was doubtless tlie 
place that suited the negro well. There are some still living 
that remember the chimneys which were large enough to allow 
several persons to sit inside the fireplace, on the side where the 
oven was, the mouth of which was on a line with the back of 
the fireplace. " The being obliged to sleep " in such a " chim- 
ney corner in cold winter nights " the negro would consider 
no hardship, but a godsend. The story is without any sub- 
stantial foundation. It doubtless refers to the slave Cresar, 
brought into town by Mr. Kimball. 

I have before me a letter from one who knew him. It shows 
that there was a time when Caasar neither lacked for a bed nor 
for money. It says : " If Ctesar fared hard I must liave fared 
so too, as I slept with him in preference to any other person, I 
being then very young. He was very kind to me. He used 
to have his purse full of change, and the way he got money was 
by making and selling staves to Paul Coffin, jr. He used to get 
me to go into the timber with him and assist him in saAving to 
make staves. I was so small that I could not j^ull the saw but 
only hold on to the handle to keep it from wiggling, which he 
said was much help to him. After he sold his staves he 
would give me gingerbread, raisins, and apples." 



256 APPEXDIX. 

Cffisar had credit, gave lils notes (after slavery was abol- 
ished), and like some white folks did not pay. 

He was alive August 9, 1796, for I have his note of that date 
on which he was sued. 

In the Note, page 31, for widow of the late John Elden read 
Nathan. c. w. 



EE 
PLEASANT POINT BUPvYING-GROUND. 

In the field in the rear of the old house still standing at 
Pleasant Point, which was built by the Hon. John Woodman, 
is a little open space, on a knoll, surrounded by a fine grove of 
evergreen and deciduous trees. 

Southwesterly the ground falls oft' sharply through the grove 
to the interval ; beyond which may be seen the Saco, here rest- 
ing tranquilly after its impetuous descent of sixty feet through 
one of the wildest and most romantic gorges which this beau- 
tiful river has made for itself on its way to the sea. 

To this spot, in the pleasant days of the Indian Summer, 
one may well come to muse over the past history of the town 
and to think of those Avho were its living and active inhabi- 
tants a century ago. . To many of them this was then familiar 
ground; and, to the wanderer who comes witli reverent spirit, 
the woods will still seem to echo to the tread of their feet and 
the sound of their voices ; while, through the hazy, dreamy at- 
mosphere, their shadowy forms will seem to rise from the earth 
Avherc the dust of so many of them reposes. 

Rude stones from the field mark some of the graves, but 
time has effaced all visible signs of most of them. 

No letter tells us the names of those who here found their 
last resting place, and the names of most of them are probably 
forgotten. Of those remembered I shall give a list below. 

The origin of the graveyard, as I was told by Mrs. Noah 
Haley, the youngest daughter of Capt. Josejih Woodman, was 
this: 



APPENDIX. 257 

A man named Sewall cleared up this spot for her father- 
Coming in to dinner, one day, he said that he had been clearing 
a good place for a burying-ground, and dying shortly after, his 
words Avere remembered and lie was the first person buried 
there. 

LIST OF BURIALS, SO FAR AS KXOWN. 

Sewall, Mr. As above mentioned. 

Woodman, Capt. Joseph, the first settler at Pleasant Point. 
Died in Hollis, June 4, 1796, and was brought here for burial. 
His last wife, Ileliance, was also buried here, as I was informed 
by their daughter, Mrs. Noah Haley. The preceding wife of 
Capt. Woodman was probably buried here too, as ho was liv- 
ing at Pleasant Point at the time of her death. 

Woodman, Olive, wife of Nathan Woodman who settled at 
Pleasant Point in 1757. Mrs. Paul Woodman told me that 
she died in the fall of 1774, and two young children of hers 
about the same time, named Polly (or Susan) and Sewall. 

Woodman, Nathan, jr., sailor, son of the above-mentioned 
Nathan. Died in a vessel at Saco, but was buried here. 

Woodman, Amos, another son of Nathan, died when a 
young man. 

Woodman, Mary, wife of Hon. John Woodman, a daughter 
of Lieut. Jonathan, and granddaughter of CajDt. Jonathan Bean 
of the Block House, which stood on the west side of the river 
below Union Palls. She was born January 17, 1752; died 
June 1, 1800. 

Woodman, Mary, daughter of the last named; born 1782; 
died 1786. 

Woodman, Samuel, son of Moses and grandson of Nathan ; 
born 1792; died 1806. 

Woodman, Abigail, first wife of Moses Woodman and 
daughter of Deacon Daniel Leavitt. 

Woodman, Martha, second wife of said Moses; died 1823. 

Dunn, Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Dunn, daughter of Joseph 

Atkinson, and granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Woodman; 

born Nov. 21, 1788; died in Hollis in 1804, and was brought 

here for burial. 
17 



258 



APPENDIX. 



Leavitt, Samuel, son of Joseph of York ; died Sept., 1797 
aged 65 years. 

Leavitt, Sarah, wife of Samuel and daughter of Capt. John 
Phinney the first settler of Gorham. She died April, 1793, 
aged 59 years. 

Leavitt, Abigail, 2d •wife of Deacon Daniel Leavitt and 
daughter of Samuel Dennett, of Saco. 

Hopkinson, John, jr., son of the first settler John ; born July 
27, 1740 ; died Jan. 24, 1817. His father and mother it is sup- 
posed were also buried here. 

Hopkinson, Rebekah, wife of John, jr., born Sept. 20, 1741 ; 
died April 16, 1807. 

Atkinson, Humphrey, one of the first settlers; born in New- 
bury, June 12, 1720 ; died probably in 1775. 

Atkinson, Sarah, his wife. 

Gray, Cadwallader, son of James Gray, of Saco, graduated 
at Harvard, 1784 ; kept school in Buxton, also was a trader 
there. 

Gray, Joanna, his wife, daughter of John Garland. 

Prescott, Hannah, daughter of Stephen ; died probably as 
early as 1780. 

Barnes, Mary, wife of Ezekiel Barnes, trader, wlio lived on 
the Pleasant Point road, opposite the school-house and in the 
rear of the Gupper block, so called. His store is said to have 
stood where Mr. Game's shoe factory stands. He went to Eng- 
land and Avas never heard, of afterwards. He married Mary, 
daughter of John and Hannah Scamman, of Saco, April 7, 1791. 
A daughter married James, son of Lieut. Moses Atkinson. 

Barnes, Laura, young daughter of the above-named. 

A daughter of theirs died in Saco, December, 1791, "2 
months old, of Fits, unbaptized," but was not buried here. 

I have his signature under date of Nov. 22, 1794. 

Sands, John, son of Ephraim, of Saco, was found drowned 
in the river. It was suspected that he was murdered. 

Cole, Samuel, said to have been a brother of John Cole. A 
pine tree is said to have grown on his grave, and one now 
standing in the burial ground perhaps marks the spot. 

Gardner, John, came from Marblehead, lived with Joshua 
Kimball and died from the eflect of a kick by a horse. 



APPENDIX. 259 

Davis. A Mr, Davis was buried here -svithin the recollection 
of the late John Elclen, jr., of Buxton. 

Davis, Ichabod, son of Daniel and Prlscilla Davis, drowned 
near the bridge, aged about two years. 

Chase, Abner, came from Kittery. Went over Salmon Falla 
dam and was drowned. 

Merrill, Daniel, son of John and Rebecca, drowned when a 
boy. 

Lane, Thomas, son of Jabez and Betsey, drowned when a boy. 

Groves, two children of Dr. P. F,, who lived at Salmon 
Falls in 1813. 

Mr. Gibeon E. Bradbury, gave me on the authority of his 
grandmother, the name of" Gibeon Elden and his wife Martha " 
as buried here. This is an error, but it leads me to suspect 
that Capt. John Elden, who died in 1793, and his wife were 
meant. 

In a letter to me dated April 20, 1867, the late Mr. John 
Elden, jr., of Buxton wrote that at Pleasant Point "there have 
been buried since my remembrance Nathaniel Dunn's wife, a 
man named Davis, Nathan Woodman, Moses Woodman's two 
wives and son Samuel, John IloiJkiuson and wife and two small 
children of Dr. Groves. That I think is all within sixty years. 
I have heard Judge Woodman say that his mother, brother, sis- 
ter, and wife, Joseph Woodman, and I think many more of the 
Woodman family were buried there ; also Joseph (Samuel it 
should be) Leavitt and wife." 

The facts in regard to the burials at Pleasant Point, have 
been communicated to me mostly by Mr. Daniel Dennett, Mr. 
Elden above-named, and Mr. Gibeon E. Bradbury who derived 
his information from his grandmother. c. w. 



FF 

SCHOOLS. 

The older and fortuitous method of pioneer settlement has 
been supplanted by systematic colonization ; and a colony of 
to-day has no sooner pitched its tents and cooked the first meal, 



260 APPENDIX. 

than it calls into exercise the paraphernali.i of common schools 
which it has carried along with it, as a part of itself, and enters 
at once on the new life with the civil advantages of matured 
communities. 

The pioneers of Narragauset No. 1, like their ancestors in 
Xew England, abandoned country, home-comfort, society, and 
schools, when they made their entrance upon the new^ terri- 
tory. But this fact is worthy of notice, that as soon as, and 
even before, they had acquired the full title to the land, they 
took measures to reinstate themselves in the midst of these 
advantages. The wisdom, also, of the laAV-makers of early 
times, pondering the welfare of those who might succeed 
them, will be acknowledged, Avhen a careful examination of 
recorded facts, reveal the humble though sturdy origin of these 
privileges. Pages 20, 25, 58, and 59 of the historical discourse 
herein will afford a glimpse of them. It will be seen that the 
act, conferring these township grants, imposed upon the set- 
tlers in each one the condition of settling within seven years, 
sixty families, with an Orthodox minister ; and reserving three 
lots of land, VIZ. : one for the minister, one for the ministry and 
one for schools. We know also, that these were fulfilled in 
this town ; but how soon after the settlement the first school 
was in operation, or where it was kept, is not known. 

Mr. Ebcn Wentworth^ of Portland, Superintendent of the 
Maine State Reform School, who wrote a brief sketch of the 
school teachers of Buxton for this publication, and from 
which I make some extracts, gives an extract from Rev. Paul 
CofKn's journal, viz. : "May 20, 1761. Silas Moody going to 
keep school with me in Narraganset. Rode with me to Rev. 
Morrills, of Biddeford. Dined with him, and rode to ISTarra- 
ganset where we found all well." 

Mr. W. continues: "The sons and daughters of the first 
settlers were the old men and women of my early days, and I 
think all who remember them will endorse the statement that 
they were well instructed in such branches as were taught in 
the schools of those times, and especially in matters relating to 
their duties as citizens and guardians of our free institutions, 

I have in my possession specimens of penmanship, written 



APPENDIX. 261 

by the sons of Capt. Woodman, Capt. Thomas Bradbury, Jacob 
Bradbury, Lieut. Merrill, and Dr. Coffin, in settlement of ac- 
counts, execution of deeds, report of committees, etc., which 
will compare lavorably with those of the present time." 

Our information concerning the schools of Buxton before the 
revolutionary war, is at best fragmentary; we find only an oc- 
casional relic to sustain the failing fabric of tradition. It seems 
certain enough that Silas Moody taught the first school in the 
town, and that in 1761. 

lie graduated from Harvard College in 17G1. How long he 
continued here is not known. Mr. W. states that he was set- 
tled over a church in Arundel (now Kennebunk) in 1771, 
where he continued to preach until the time of his death in 
1816, a period of fifty-five years, which, if so, would have left 
him in Buxton but a very short time. There were, doubtless, 
schools kept in the town some part of the year from this time 
forward; but the names of the teachers and the character and 
location of the school-houses are in obscurity. 

The first vote of the town, on the support of schools, which 
I have been able to find, was at the town meeting held March 
25, 1777. It was on the question Avhether there should be a 
school or not, and the vote was carried to have a school, and 
" 80 Lbs. was voted to be raised for the purpose." 

" At a town meeting held May 29, 1778, it was voted not 
to raise money to hire a school." 

But it is 231'esumed that the success which attended our arms 
in the cause of liberty the ensuing year, gave them better 
courage, for "At a town meeting, held March 16, 1779, It was 
voted to have a school, and 200 Lbs. vras voted to hire a school 
master." 

Mr. "Wentworth speaks of Barnabas Sawyer as a teacher 
here in 1785, when Mr. Tristram Eaton attended his school 
which was kept in Mr. Ridlon's (Ebenezer) house, which once 
stood near Avhere the house of Capt. Lewis B. Goodwin now 
stands. I find on the town treasurer's account for 1785, a 
credit item to school class No. 3, viz. : " By Paid Mr. Sayer 
(Sawyer) for six months schooling £25 4s." I found on a fly 



262 APPENDIX. 

leaf of the treasurer's book the following : " Take Notice, — 
that Class No. 1, in the year 1783, are connected with class 
No. 2, as far as Beech Plain road extends, and also that Class 
No. 3 and No. 4 are connected including only those on the 
way from Haines's Meadow Bridge to Hovey's." This Avas 
written in the handwriting of Hon. John Woodman, ■\^'ho Avas 
then one of the selectmen of the town. 

In that year there were six school districts in the town. 
Their extent, No. of scholars, and comparative prosperity, may 
be better understood from a copy of some items from an old 
treasurer's account, viz. : 

" 1783. ToAvn Dr. 

To class No. 1, including Beech Plain road, Capt. 
John Elden chairman 

Class No. 2, Saml. Knight, chairman 

" " 3, Snell Wingate « 
No. 4, Jas. Sands chairman 
No. 5, Peter Ayer chairman 
No. 6, Joseph Atkinson chairman 

£80. 0.00 
The appropriation for school in 1784, Avas 90 lbs., in 1786-7, 
80 lbs., in 1788, 100 lbs., in 1789, 150 lbs. The limits of these 
districts Ave cannot give here; the locality Ave can. No. 1 was 
Pleasant Point and vicinity. No 2 Avas Beech Plain road and 
the Lower Corner. No. 3 from Capt. Jabez Lane's to Buxton 
Centre and vicinity. No. 4, after the union Avith No. 3, about 
Spruce SAvamp, Rounds' neighborhood, and to theGorliam line. 
No. 5 that part in the 3d Division, near Standish. No. G that 
part called East Buxton. In District No. 1, Mr. Gay taught 
4 months in 1784, and earned 17 lbs. 15s. He was succeeded 
by "Master Elliot" aa^Iio taught in Districts Nos. 1 and 2, and 
boarded at Rev. Paul Coffin's and Thomas Emery's; John 
Woodman taught the same, three months in 1786, and Barna- 
bas Sayer (Sawyer) in 1788. Miss Hovey kept 14 weeks for 
3 lbs. and 10 shillings in 1790. The school in these tAvo dis- 
tricts from this time until Dec. 30, 1793, Avas taught by Mr. 



£18. 


2. 1 


16. 


4.0i 


18.18.1^ 


14. 


6.2i 


6. 


1. 


6. 


8.6| 



APPENDIX. 263 

Luther Kinsley. John Hearn kept in this union District in 
1794 ; part of the time the school was near LoAver Corner and 
the rest of the time at a school-house near the house of Joses 
Hoi^kinson, near Pleasant Point. Mrs. Olive Dunn, now nine- 
ty-two years old, attended school at both places, and well re- 
members "Johnny Hearn" and several before him. Mr. Moses 
Dunn says he went to school in Cadwallader Gray's house, kept 
by Gray ; this was in the lower part of District No. 1 ; he says 
the school was afterwards taught by one Fuller, but does not 
recollect the year. 

The school at Ijower Corner was kept by Saml. Cutts in 
1787. By Miss Sands in 1790, and from that time until 1794, 
by a Ml'. Huse. 

In District Xo. 3, Barnabas Sawyer seemed to have given 
very good satisfaction for he taught here a part of each year 
from 1785 to 1794, and perhaps longer. I judge that he 
" boarded round," for board bills Avcre cashed by the treasurer 
for Brice Boothby, Humphrey Merrill, John Eaton, and others, 
from one to four weeks board, at an average of 7 shillings per 
week. 

It is almost certain, judging from the universal testimony of 
these old people, that the schools were frequently, and perhaps 
generally, kej^t in dwelling-houses,- and in different parts of the 
same district. Timothy Ham succeeded Mr. Sawyer in this 
district for a short time. 

In District No. 4, Barnabas Sawyer taught part of the time 
in 1787. He was succeeded by one Grace in the same year, 
by Mr. Huse in 1791, by Phebe Payne in 1792, and by Hannah 
Myrick and Joseph Billings in 1793-4. 

In District No. 5, Barnabas Sawyer also taught a short time 
in 1788. He was succeeded by " School Master Bangs," by 
Mr. Grace and Mr. Kinsley, and in 1793, by Francis Morrissey. 
Some idea of the extent of this district may be formed from the 
places, so remote from each other, whei'e the teachers boarded ; 
at Jos. Rounds', Lt. Mark Rounds', Jas. Norton's, Clement 
Jordan's, Ensign John Smith's, Jas. Sands', and John Cresy's. 

In District No 6, Barnabas Sawyer taught a while in 1789, 
and again in 1794. Mr. Simeon Jordan also taught a while. 



264 APPENDIX. 

District No. 7 -was created in 1784, from a part of each of 
Districts 5 and 6; Joseph Atkinson, chairman. Barnabas SaAv- 
yer also taught liere a few Aveeks in each year for several years- 
He was succeeded by Samuel Cutts in 1792, and by Phebe 
Payne. The proportion of money in this district in these years 
Avas small. 

Mr. WentAvorth says : "Francis Morrisscy and John Ilearn 
came to this country from Ireland. Master Morrissey Avas em- 
l^loyed in teaching about fifteen years. A large part of the 
time in the old school-honse mid\A'ay between the Centre and 
Leavitt's Mills. A feA\^ of his pupils still Vive to relate the 
marvellous incidents connected Avith his school; but most of 
them have long since passed aAvay. Gen. Irish taught several 
term»s in the "Waterman District and AA^as highly esteemed by 
his pupils. He resided in Gorham, Avas a man of great activity 
and enterprise, and jDrobably held more commissions, civil and 
military, than any other man in that town." 

"By an Act of the Massachusetts Legislature passed June 
25, 1789, each town Avas required to maintain one school in 
Avhich Greek and Latin and English Grammar could be taught 
free to all of suitable age. In compliance Avith this law, Bux- 
ton established two schools of this grade, the North Grammar 
school at the Centre, and the South Grammar at the Lower 
Corner, where masters of experience and ability, usually col- 
lege graduates, Avere employed, and liberal a2)propriatioDS Avere 
made." 

Among the first grammar masters Avere Tappan Wentworth 
and Zenas Payne at the North Grammar, and Charles Coffin 
at the South Grammar. It Avas through the efforts of the lat- 
ter that a charter for an Academy in Buxton Avas obtained in 
1830. A building was erected and a school opened; but the 
location Avas so near other academies that it AA'as deemed ad- 
visable to discontinue the school. 

The building Avas, n(Jl long after, removed to near Bar Mills, 
on the road which formerly led across " Usher's Bridge" and 
noAv forms the main part of the dwelling house of Mr. Alvan 
Palmer. 



APPENDIX. 265 

These schools were afterwards taught hy Master Smith, 
Elder Flanders, Dea. William Wentworth, Master Durgan, 
Joseph Hill and Rev. Mark Hill and Dea. Samuel Elden, 

Dea. Asa Brown kept at the Lower Corner several years. 
He has been referred to in a previous part of this work. As a 
disciplinarian he seemed ambitious to make his mar/c, and his 
pupils received impressions of the most lasting character of 
his peculiar method. Those of his scholars who survived his 
reign, speak of the alacrity with which they hastened to "down 
at his bidding," when visions of the Torqucmada which his 
frown foreshadowed danced before their brain. The branches 
in which he was most proficient were sometimes hiotty, and 
their adaptation to those of tender years and mild tempera- 
ment, were not fully enough appreciated to be at all times wel- 
come. 

He was the last representative of that class of teachers, who 
called into exercise their system of muscular Christianity, and 
whose cold^ forbidding presence in a school-room festooned 
with penalties and prohibitions, shut out the sunlight of com- 
mon humanity from the rational system of education. He de- 
parted this life to receive his crown of righteousness. May 8, 
1858. 

The following was contributed by Cyrus Woodman : 

THE FIKST SCHOOL-HOUSE IN BUXTOX. 

Mr. Dennett on his map published in 1871, tells us where 
the first school-house stood. This he learned from tradition, 
and it is probably correct. The law of June 25, 1789, com- 
pelled tov/ns to maintain schools, but gave no authority to levy 
taxes for building school-houses. Hence the necessity for 
building them by subscription. 

The late Mr. Jacob Bradbury, remembered a school-house 
which stood near Mr, John Boynton's, in which Samuel Cutts, 
Esq., (who was his first schoolmaster) kept school in his own 
house.^ The school-house vvMs moved from Boynton's to Eph- 

iMrs. Olive Dunn confirms the statement of :Mr. Bradbury in regard to the location 
of this Bchool-house.— Ed. 



266 APPENDIX. 

raim Sands', and now, Mr. Bradbury says, constitutes tliat part 
of Mr. Bunnell Sands' shed which is nearest to his barn.^ 

The first school-house at the Lower Corner stood, I suppose, 
where the present one stands, and was burned. 

In 1791, a subscription was started for the j^urpose of build- 
ing a school-house, a copy of which Avill be found below. It 
Avas drawn by Hon. John Woodman, and it resulted, in all 
probability, in the building of the school-house mentioned by 
Mr. Dennett. Indications of the site are still visible. It will 
be noticed that the subscribers lived at and between Salmon 
Falls and the Saco line, following the river road by the way of 
Pleasant Point. There was doubtless another similar subscrip- 
tion made by those who lived about Beech Plain and the meet- 
ing-house, if, as seems probable, this was the school-house for 
the south district of the two into Avhieh the town was at 
first divided. At any rate here came children to school from 
Beech Plain and from Rev. Paul Cofiin's, as Mr. David Dennett 
stated of his own' knowledge. The subscription was as follows : 

" We the subscribers who compose the first school class in the 
Town of Buxton having fully considered the expediency of 
Building a School House for the Accommoding the youth in 
said Class in Common Literature usually taught in Reading, 
Writing & Cyphering, do hereby obligate ourselves by these 
presents to each other as a Society Composed & Constituted 
therefor that we will severally bind ourselves to to pay Joshua 
Kimball and Thomas Atkinson members of said Class whom we 
have mutually chosen to Carry^into effect the building the s'd 
School House such sums as may be in proportion to our Last 
valuation that the Taxes in this Town are assessed upon in 
such materials or other things as may [be] necessary to the 
building s'd School House, & that we Avill j^ay the same Avhcn 
demanded of the s'd Kimball [& Atkinson in as full an [d] 

1 Mr. Duunell Sands^says the statement of Mr. Bradbury about this old school-house 
forming part of his shed or buildings, is not correct. But that the old school-house re- 
ferred to used to sit on shoes, and was moved as often as once in two years ; first down 
to the lower end of the district, and then back again near the lower corner; and that 
after another house was built, this one was used by his grandfather, Ephraim Sands, 
for a blacksmith shop, and stood near, or below,'.where his house now stands, and was 
taken down by his father, but not used in building the shed. — Ed. 



APPENDIX. 267 

ample a maimer as if bound by note of hand, whicli sums to be 
placed to our respective names by the Assessors of the Town 
now in office. Signed by us as follows Buxton 18th October 
1791. 
John Woodman Moses Atkinson jun. 

JOBN HOPKINSON JoHN ElDEN 

Samuel Merrill juk Nathaniel Miliken 

Thomas Atkinson John Merrill 

Joshua Kimball Moses "Woodman 

Nathl Woodman Theodore Atkinson 

Richard Palmer John Atkinson 

Gibeon Elden John Dennet" 



TAXATION AND VALUATION. 

In 1761, the county tax of Narragansett No. 1, was £1 On. Id. Whole 
tax £66. 

In 1762, £1 Os. Id., whole tax £GG. In 1767, £1 8s. 2d., whole tax £125 

In 1763, £6 10s. Id., " £370. In 1768, £0 18s. Od., " £60 

In 1764, £1 10s. Od., " £100. In 1769, £1 4s. 0., " £80 

In 1765, £1 10s. Od., " £100. In 1770, £1 12s. 0., 

In 1766, £2 2s. 8d., " £140. In 1773, £2 16s. 6., 

The above is from York County Kecords of Conrt of Sessions. 

In 1784, the valuation from which the tax was made is as 
follows : 

"DwelUn houses 2 Story high, 8; Ditto 30 by 40 feet, 1 Story 
high 33 ; 40x20, 1 Story 71, in all 112. Tan houses 1 : Pott 
ash houses, 1 ; Barns 116; 7 Grist and Saw Mills; 459 acres 
tillage land; 921 acres mowing; 120 acres fresh meadow; 604 
acres jiasture ; 13861 acres unimproved; 617 acres unimprov- 
able, exclusive of Ponds & Hayths and undivided lands; 40 
tunns vessells ; £235 stock in trade ; 91 horses ; Colts 2 yrs old 
3 ; Colts 1 yr old 7 ; Oxen 4 yr 264 ; Neat cattle 3 jvr, 70, 2 
yrs 122, 1 yr 116 ; Cows 4 yrs 403; Sheep 551; Swine 292; 
Notes of hand 252 ; Money on hand 15 Lbs ; Polls rateable 212, 
not rateable 19. 



268 APPENDIX. 

The following was contributed by Dr. Meserve, copied from 
an olci dilapidated assessor's journal : 

According to a valuation of the Polls and Estates of the 
Proprietors and Inhabitants of the town of Buxton, returned 
to the General Court of Massachusetts in October, 1792, there 
were in town at that time, 59 rateable Polls between the ages 
of IG and 21 and 24G above the age of 21 years. There Avcrc 
also 29 Polls not rateable, and one supported by the town. 

There were at the same time 91 Dwelling Houses and G6 
buildings of the value of five pounds and upwards^ ; 15G 
Barnes, 10 shops, 2 Tan Houses, 3 Pot Ash Houses, 3 Grist 
Mills and 7 Saw Mills ; the amount of money taxed was only 
thirteen pounds, and the products of 1749 acres of tillage land 
were 1357 bush, of Wheat, 1349 of Rye, 521 of Oats, 5432 of 
Indian Corn, 45 of Barley, and 482 of Peas and Beans. 

The amount of English hay Avas 1442 tons, and of meadow 
hay 104 tons ; the Avhole stock in trade was 170 pounds ; there 
were 138 Horses, 392 Oxen, G92 Steers and Cows, and 307 
Swine. a. k. p. m, 

1 A memorandum on the back of the copy is as follows : 

N. B. We think it necessaiy to note that iu our return of Dwelling Houses there is 
but thirteen which is two Stoiy high in Town & but five of them wholly Glazed & not 
but one that is half finished; the seventy-eight which Remains are Low, Small houses; 
but few of thom Glaized & not more than three of them finished, those included iu 
buildings of £5 Vallue are mostly small houses used for Dwelling Houses without fin- 
ishing either out Side or the inside, therefore we could not from principals of Justice 
return them as Dwelling Houses. Our Barns also are in like Sittuation witli the houses 
but few of them shingled or finished &c. 

Onr Mills Likewise but One Saw Mill & one Grist mill that is on the Main River 
the rest ai-e on Small Streams which Does business but about'one mouth in the Season 
&c. 



REVOLUTIONARY WAR. BUXTON ROLL OF 
HONOR. 

It is fitting that we should close this volume with one other 
view of our ancestors, wherein we behold them as in a vision, 
active agents and brave defenders of their newly acquired 



APPENDIX. 269 

rights. We touch with reverent hand the slightest relic that 
bears the impress of their material connection with that world- 
wide important straggle, the mere mention of which strikes a 
chord of sympathy, that vibrates through the hearts of cheer- 
ful millions of living souls, and wherever one has learned to 
realize the priceless boon of civil liberty. 

The citizens of Buxton were no less sensitive to the abuse 
of foreign rule, than those of Massachusetts Bay, and the spirit 
with which they acted will be inferred from the following reso- 
lutions. 

Copy of Resolutions drawn up by the citizens of Buxton 
concerning the conduct of Great Britain towards the American 
Colonies. June 26, 1774. 

By order of the selectmen of the Town of Buxton, a War- 
rant hath Been Posted and the Inhabitants of said town have 
assembled the 20 of June 1774 and have Acted as foUowes to- 
wit 

1. Chose Thomas Bradbury Juner Moderator. 

2. John Elden Juner, John Lane, Samuel Merrill, Samuel 
hovey and John Nason, a committee to Pase som Resolves in 
behalf of the town. 

3. this meeting held by adjournment to the 24 of this In- 
stant June, then to be opened at the meeting-house to See if 
the town will accept of the Resolves which the above commit- 
tee shall draw up. 

1774. At a meeting held in Buxton June 20 at the meeting- 
house. Voted Thomas Bradbury Juner Moderator to Regulate 
said meeting and then Proseded to vote Capt. John Elden 
Capt. John Lane and messrs. Samuel merrill Samuel hovey and 
John ISTason to be a Commits to DraAV up some Resolves in be- 
half of the town and in concurance with the commite of cor- 
espondance in Boaston and other of the neighboring towns so 
far as they abide by constutional Rights of ameraca. 

Resolve 1st that Self Preservation is the first Law of natour 
and that taxation without Representation is subversive of our 
Libertyea. 



270 APPENDIX. 

2. TVhavas an act of the British Parlimeute hath been passed 
for closing up the harbour of boston, we think this is uncon- 
stational and under thcase greavous and unheard of imposition^ 
we are to remain until an uureasonoble Demand is Complied 
with and we consider this atalc upon us as utterly subversive 
of Ameracan Liberty for the same Power may at Pleasure De- 
stroy the trade and Shut up the Poarts of Every other Colony 
in its turn so that will be a total end of all Liberty and Prival- 
idg. 

3. that this town aprove of the Constitutional Exertions and 
struggles made by opulant Colonies through the Contiuant for 
Preventing so fatal a Cattastrophe as is Implied in taxation 
without Representation, and that we are and always will be 
Redy in Every Constitutional way to give all asistance in our 
Power to Prevent so Dier a Calamity. 

4. That a Dread of being enslaved ourselves and of trans- 
mitting the chains to our Posterity is the Prinsiple indusement 
to these measures. 

5. that this town Do Return their Sinsear and hearty thanks 
to all the cities, towns and persons in ameraca and to Boston 
in particular who have at all times nobly exerted themselves 
in the cause of Liberty. 

Voted that the town Clerk transmit a true copy of these Re- 
solves to the Comitte of Coraspondance in Boston. Voted 
that these Resolves be Recorded in the town Book. 

a true Entry atest John Nason, Town ClerJc. 

It was asserted, on the authority of Nathaniel Gorham,^ and 
has been reported by others, but on what authority I am not in- 
formed, that the town of Buxton, in proportion to the number of 
her inhabitants, furnished more soldiers to the Continental army 
than any other town under the government of Massachusetts 
Bay. I have not the data to show the comparison, or prove the 
truth of this ; but the following well authenticated facts will 
show the reasonableness and probable accuracy of his statement. 

1 Nathaniel Gorham, brother of the wife of Rev. Paul CofBn, was a prominent maa 
during the Revolutionary period— was a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1774-5 , 
and was chosen president of the Continental Congress in 178G. 



APPENDIX. 271 

Tliey did not all serve on the quota of Buxton, but the larger 
part of them on towns in the present limits of Massachusetts. 

In the winter of 1779, the Continental army had drawn so many men 
from Maine, that two or three companies from Machias, a volunteer 
company in Lincoln and another in York, were all that remained in 
service ; these were quite insufficient for the defence of any point and 
served only to keep the tories in check. — Varney's History of Maine. 

The following affidavit is from the Court Records of Massa- 
chusetts, Vol. 34, 583 : 
" To Col. Tristram Jordan, 

" The Number of males in Buxton are 151 above sixteen 
years of ago on Jenery last & the Names of these that have 
enlisted into the Continental army that belonged to Buxton 
are as follows : 

Jonathan Whitney Daniel Coolbroth Capt. Jaboz Lane 

James Rounds Joseph Gooding Ebenezer Ridlon 

Nathan "Woodman Nehemiah Gooding David Ridlen 

Nath'n Woodman jun Abijah Lewis Capt. Daniel Lane 

John Woodman Ersd Lewis Isaac Lane 

Saml. Woodman John Moore William Hancock 

Daniel Fields Saml. Smith John Cole 

Samuel Brooks Benjamin Elwell Saml. Cole 

Ezekiel Bragdon John Elwell John Cole jun'r 

James Coolbroth James Moody John Edgerly 

John Smith ) Selectmen 

Thos. Bradbury - of 
Saml. Knight ) Buxton 

YoKK BS. Buxton August 26, 1777. 

then Personally appeared John Smith, Thomas Bradbury 
and Samuel Knight, and Swore that the Number of Male In- 
habitants in said Buxton from Sixteen years old and upwards 
are one Hundred and fifty-one, out of which thirty are Inlisted 
into the Continental army. Before me 

John Nason" town Clerk 
To Tristram Jordan 

Att Peppcrhill." 



272 



APPENDIX. 



We have not tlie means of furnisliing the names of all the soldiers 
who served in the Continental array from Buxton ; still more difficult 
is it, at this distance of time, to class them in Companies, Piegiments, 
or Corps Divisions, to name the expeditions in which they were a part, 
or the time through which they served. ]S"one of them now survive. 
Now and then a son or a daughter can be found, who can tell the story 
of their father's experience, and especially their suffering, and almost 
miraculous escape from death by famine, by contagious diseases, or by 
exposure in long marches in the winter season— sometimes through 
the wilderness, and sometimes through communities whose sympa- 
thies were wholly with the Koyal cause. We have gathered something 
from this source, and find in it a refreshing similitude to the recorded 
transactions. We have also gathered from manuscripts, and books 
which have survived the raid of peddlers, and now, we trust, rescued 
from oblivion. As far as practicable, we will give below the names and 
companies, in the order of time. Some of them served short terms 
and re-enlisted for longer periods, and for this reason their names will 
appear more than once. 

CAPT. JEREMIAH HILL'S COMPANY. 
(The original list of names are from Capt. Goodwin's papers.) 
The men below enlisted from Buxton in the Revolutionary army, in 
the company of Capt. Jeremiah Hill.^ of Biddeford, in the 30th Regt. 
of Foot, com.manded by Col. James Scamman. Part of them were 
afterwards in the expedition to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, in 
Capt. Jabez Lane's company. Some of them served with Washington 
in New Jersey, and in the southern campaign. 

Samuel Men-ill, Ileut., eulisted May 3, 1775. 

Ward Eddy, Sergt., eulisted M.iy 3, 1775. James Redlou, enlisted May 3, 1775. 

Phineas Towle, Sergt., " " " " Ezekiel Bragdou, " " " " 

John Elden, Coi-pl., " " " " Jolin Sands, " " '• " 

Matthias Redlon, Corpl.," " " " Mieah Whitney, " " " " 

Jolm Cole,2 " " " " .Touathan Fields, " " " •' 

Nathan Woodman, " " " " Joseph Goodwin,' " " " " 

Samiiel Merrill, jr., " " •' <• Samuel Woodsora, " " " " 

Robert Brooks, " " " " Nehemiah Goodwin," " " " 

William Audros, " " " " Daniel Hill, Ensign, " " " " 



1 Some of the men in Capt. Hill's company were driifted to go in the expedition 
with Ai-nold to Quebec, via the Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers, but we do not 
know the names of them; probably there was a Buxton man among them, but 
cannot give his name. Capt. Hill returned at the expiration of one year, hav- 
ing resigned his commission. Part of the company joined the regiment of Col. Joseph 
Vose, at West Point, and were at the surrender of Burgoyne. Cupt. Hill, in 1779, was 
appointed Adjutant General of the forces sent by the State to Penobscot river. 

2 John Cole was at the battle of Monmouth. 

' Joseph Goodwin was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware. 



APPENDIX. 



CAPT. DAXIEL LANE'S COMPANY. 



273 



The original list is from Goodwin's Narraganset. 
The following are the names of Buxton men who were enlisted for 
the service of the United States of America, by Capt. Daniel Lane, of 
the late Col. Ichabod Alden's Regiment, for the State of Massachusetts 
Bay, for three years and during the war. The most of them were 
attached to the 7lh Regiment, Col. Brooks. They were in the Ticon- 
deroga expedition with the forces of Gen. Schuyler, and afterwards of 
Gen. Gates; were present at the surrender of Burgoyne to Gen. Gates 
at Saratoga^ and were in active service the most of their time. Col. 
Brooks' Regiment was a while under Gen. Knox, who had command 
of the artillery on the Hudson river, and also at the battle of Stillwater. 
The dates of their enlistment and discharge, and to what towns accred- 
ited, are as below: 
Daniel Lane, Captain, enlisted Nov. 1-i, 1776; discharged Jan. 1, 1780. 
David Redlon, from Mar. 20, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1780, accredited to 
Rowley, Mass. Bounty, £9. 
Ebenezer Redlon, from Feb. 28, 1777, to May 5, 1777, when he died. 
John Wilson, from March 5, 1777, to May 3, 1778, when he was killed ; 
accredited to Topsiield. Bounty, £24. 

John Woodman, Sergeant," from June 19, 1777, to Oct. 10, 1779; 
accredited to Ilingham. 

Nathan Woodman, from Jan. 1, 1777, to Jan. 2, 1780, corporal; 
accredited to Topsiield. 
Nathan Woodman, jr., from Jan. 20, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779. 
Samuel Cole, from Mar. IS, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1780; accredited to 
Braintree. Bounty, £24. 
Benjamin Elwell, from Feb. 13, 1777, to Feb. 13, 1780. 
John Elwell (son of Benj.), from Mar. 20, 1777, to Mar. 20, 1730; 
then re-enlisted for during the war. 

John Edgerly, from Jan. 20, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779, when he was 
transferred to the Invalid Corps. 
Isaac Lane (son of Daniel), from Jan. IS, 1777, to Jan. IS, 1780. Fifer. 
John Cole, from Feb. 9, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779, then discharged. 
John Cole, jr., from Jan. 20, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779, when he was 
transferred to Capt. Derby's. 

William Hancock, from Jan. 20, 1777, to Feb. 20, 1780 ; accredited to 
Stoughtonham. Bounty, £24. 

Samuel Woodsom, and John Woodsom, and John Smith, all of Bux- 
ton, are in the pay-roll of Capt. Daniel Lane's Company, of 0;;t., 1778. 

1 At the time of the surrender of Burgoyne, Capt. Daniel Lane was a prisoner, and 
was released Sept. 10, 1777, by order of Lt. Gen. Burgoyne, on his parole to go home 
to his family. 

- John AVoodman Vr'as aftcrw.irds tnuisfcrred to the Commissary Department. 

18 



274 APPENDIX. 

Capt. Jabez Lane served tlirougli the most of the Revohitiouavy war. 
IIo was a captain of a company in the Mass. Gth PiCgt., Coh Thomas 
Xixon, was with the army at Boston, Cambridge, Connecticut, Long 
Island, and with the Northern Department, at Ticonderoga, and West 
Point, in Gen. Alexander McDougall's corps. No muster-roll of his 
company has been found, but an account which he kept with the 
soldiers (probably of his company), I found in an old mcmorandum- 
booki with dates 1775, '70, '77, and give belov/ an extract therefrom, 
containining the names of Buxton men; also a few other items of 
interest in this: 
March 1, 177G, Benjamin "Woodman Dr to 1 coat £1 14. 0. 



March 11, 1770, Phineas tole 


Dr to 1 pair Lather Bridies 1 10. 0. 


8, 1776, John Cole 


Dr to 1 great cot 




1 16. 0. 


(No date) Lemuel Rounds 


Dr to 1 great cot 




1 16. 0. 


Robert Broox 


Dr " " great cot 




1 10. 0. 


Elijah Brad Bury 


Dr " " Shurt 




10. 0. 


John hancock 


Dr " " Jaccot 




14. 0. 


William Andros 


Dr '• 1 Shurt 




10. 6. 


Ebenezer Ridley 


1 Shurt 




10. G. 


John Boynton 


2 Shurts 




1 1. 0. 


Daniel bointon 


" 1 great cot 




1 10. 0. 


Ephraim Sands 


'• 1 Shurt 




10. 0. 


Moses Atkinson 


" 1 Shurt 




10. 6. 


Jeames Woodmon 


1 Shurt 




10. G. 


Stephen Whitney 


2 Shurts 




1 1.0. 


Richard clay 


" to cash 




4.0. 


Flood 


" to cash 




4.0. 


What I have stopt out of their wages. 






John Cole £0 14. 0. 


Eben'r Ridley 


£0 10. 0. 


Daniel Boynton 0. 0. 


Stephen Whitney 





G. 0. 


Jeames Woodmon 10. 0. 


Elijah Bradbury 





14. 0. 


Prosp't Hill,— 








John Lane Dr to cash 





13.0. 


To 1 Pare Stokens 


1 


0.0. 



The following names in another place are probably in another com- 
pany : 

Abiathar Woodsom 1 Pt Rum 7. 0. Saml Woodsom 1 Qt Rum. 

Joshua Woodmon 1 Pt and | Rum 7. G. Isaac Boynton Pint and 
ahalf— 7. G. 

Benjamin Clay 1 Pare of Shoes £3 0. 0. 

In Goodwin's Nan-aganset, in the list of soldiers whom Capt. Jabez 
Lane had enlisted and paid bounty to, are the names of Samuel Brctoks, 
enlisted March 14, 1777, and Ezekiel Bragdon, both from Buxton. 

' This is an old leatlior covered book, mucli worn, and tlie writing partly obliterated. 
It is owned by Miss Mehitable AV. Lane, of Buxton, his grand-daughter, by whom it 
was loaned to uic. On the first page is the following: 

"Jabez Lane, his Hook august l-I, 1775, Capo An." Miss Lane has also his sword 
and dram cup which he used in that war. These, with other papers of her grandfather, 
she has preserved with commendable fidelity. 



APPENDIX. 275 

CAPT. JOHJ^ ELDEN'S COMPANY. 
" A company was raised Feb. 2G, 1770, for a sliort term of service, 
from Buxton, Arundel, Eiddeford, and Pepperrelboro, commanded by 
Capt. John Eldeu^ of Buxton. The company belonged to the regiment 
of militia, under Col. Lemuel Robinson. Although gone but two 
months, they assisted in the very important work of fortifying Dorch- 
ester Heights on the night of March 4th.2 I find the names of only 
four. These were furnished by Cyrus Woodman, Esq. They were 
James, Joseph, Benjamin, and John Woodman (a sergeant), doubtless 
there were many others. 



CAPT. JOHN LANE'S COMPANY. 

John Lane raised a company in 1775, and was appointed captain of 
it. They were in Col. Foster's regiment eight months, and stationed 
at Cape Ann. At the expiration of this time they joined the regiment 
of Col. Varnnm on Long Island, and were engaged in a battle there. 
Col. Yarnura's regiment was in the army of Washington at Yalley 
Forge during the winter of 1777, '78. The Buxton men, as far as known 
to us, were John Lane Hancock, Elijah Bradbury, Joshua Woodman, 
Samuel Woodman,'' Abiathar Woodsum, Samuel Woodsum. 

Stephen Whitney, Abijah Lewis, and Theodore Kouuds, were in the 
company of Capt. (Hart) Lewis, of Gorham. They marched to Cam- 
bridge in 1775, and thence to Ticonderoga, in Col. Phinney's regiment. 

William Davis, Jonathan Whitney, and George Berry? were in the 
company of Capt. Bichard Mabury, of Windham, 11th Mass. Eegt., 
Col. Benj. Tupper, were at Burgoyne's surrender, and at the battle 
of Monmouth. 

Samuel Bounds, Benj. Emery, and John Smith, enlisted in 1770, in 
Capt. Alexander IMcLellan's Company, Col. Jonathan Whitney's Begt., 
and were in the Penobscot or Bagaduce (Biguyduce) expedition. Dan- 
iel Emery and Joseph Rounds were in Col. Phinney's regiment, and at 
Burgoyne's surrender. 

Thomas Harmon was an orderly in Washington's Life Guard. Caleb 
Hopkinson was one of Gen. Gates' body guard. Michael Rand served 
five years, was under Gen. Stark when he defeated Col. Baum, at Ben- 
ington, Aug. 16, 1777 ; and after that was under Gen. Green in the South ; 
fought at Cowpens, Guilford Court- House, Eutaw Springs, and was at 
Yorktown at the surrender of Cornwallis, Oct. IP, 1781, was then dis- 
charged, and walked home. 

^ Ctipt. John Elden, audJohu Eldcn, jr., were in the battU? of Bunker Hill. Capt. 
John commanded a company there . 
■ From Folsom's History of Saco and Ciddeford. 
= Samuel Woodman was one of AV^ashiugtoa'a Life Guard. 



276 



APPEKDIX. 



Eoger Plaisted and Joshua Woodman^ were in tlie navy. 

Ebenezer Smith, Gibeon Ekien, Wintlirop Eradbnry, and John 
Wentworth served nine months.- 

The most of the soldiers in the Continental army enlisted for short 
terms in the first of the ^Yar, until Congress resolved to raise a stand- 
ing army of seventy-five thousand men, to serve three years, or during 
the war. 



EECAPITULATIOX 

Alley Ephraira. 
Andrews Elisha. 
Andrews William.'* 
Athinson Moses, Lt. 
Boynton John. 
Eoynton Daniel. 
Bradbury Elijali. 
Bradbury Thomas, Lt. 
Bradbury Winthrop. 
Bradbury Jacob.'^ 
Bragdon Ezekiel. 
Brooks Robert. 
Brooks Isaiah.-^ 
I3l-ooks Samuel. 
Cole John. 
Cole John, 2d. 
Cole John, jr. 
Cole Samuel. 
Clay Eichard. 
Clay Benjamin. 
Coolbrotii Daniel. 
Coolbroth James. 
Davis WiUiam. 
Davis Thomas. 
Eddy Ward. 
Edgerly John. 
Elden Capt. John. 
Elden John, jr. 
Elden Gibeon. 
IClwell Benjamin. 
Elwell John. 
Emery Benjamin. 
Emery Daniel. 
Emery Thomas. 
Fields Daniel. 



AXD FULL LIST OF 
BETICAL ORDER. 
Fields Jonathan. 
Flood Henry. 
Fogg Elias. 
(Joodwin Josepli, 
Goodwin Nehemiah. 
Hancock John L. 
Hancock William. 
Hanscomb John. 
Harmon Joel. 
Harmon Peltiah. 
Harmon Thomas. 
Hill Daniel, Ensign. 
Hill Nathaniel. 
Hopkinson Caleb. 
Jose John. 
Lane Daniel Capt. 
Lane Jabez Capt. 
Lane John Capt. 
Lane John, jr. 
Lane Isaac. 
Lewis Abijah. 
Lewis Esdras. 
Leavitt Joseph.3 
Merrill Samuel, Lt. 
Merrill William. 
jMerrill Samuel, jr. 
Moody James. 
Moore Hugh. 
Moore John. 
Owen John. 
Plaisted Roger. 
Rand Michael. 
Redlon Ebenezer. 
Eedlon Ebenezer, jr. 
Redlon David. 



NAMES IN ALPIIA- 

Redlon James. 
Redlon Matthias. 
Rolfe Jeremiah. 
Rounds James. 
Rounds Lemuel. 
Rounds Joseph. 
Itounds Samuel. 
Rounds Theodore. 
Sands Ephraim. 
Sands John. 
Simpson Asa. 
Smith John, Ensign. 
Smith Samuel. 
Smith Ebenezer. 
Smith William. 
Towle Phineas.-* 
Whitney Jonathan. 
Whitney Stephen. 
AVentworth John. 
Wilson John. 
Woodman Ephraim. 
Woodman Benjamin. 
Woodman James. 
Woodman John. 
Woodman Joshua. 
Woodman Nathan. 
Woodman Nathan, jv. 
Woodman Samuel. 
Woodsum Abiathar. 
Woodsum Michael, rep. 
Woodsum Samuel. 
Whitney JNlicah. 
And others — number 
unknown. 



1 lie was iinpri'onoil in Jlill prison ill England witli several otliors, antl tlicy niaJe 
Uicir escape by dif,'p;ing under the walls witii an old iron hoop, and escaped to France. 

- At a Town meeting held Aug. 3d, 1780, Art. 1th, To see if the town will pay Kben'r 
fimith, Gibeus Klden, Winthrop Bradbury, and Jolin "Wentworth, ,-(;l20 per man, 
agreeable to a Kesolve of this State of tlie i)th of June, 1779, as a bounty for 9 montlis 
service in the Continental army. — liuxton Town Jiccords. 

s These names, witli several others, wlio were known to have been in the Continental 
army, are attached to the remnant of an old tax-bill book which I found among tlio 
papers of Capt. Jabez Lane, in wliich is stated tlie time each served, amount of boun- 
ty, etc., calculated for the apportionment for Buxton's quota of the 1000 men called 
lor from Jlassachusetts Bay, agreeably to resolve March 1, 1782. 

■• Mr. Peter Kmery relates a little anecdote whicli was told to him by Ephraim Sands, 
a llevolutionary soldier. At one time, when tlie eomjiany w.as called up at reveille, 
the captain (supposed to be Capt. Jahez Lane) announced to his company that he 
wanted ten vohiuteers to attend him in an attack involving great personal danger, and 
asked who woulil be lirst. A dead silence prevailed for a while; at length I'hineas 
Towle stejiped forward and volunteered. He was soon followed liy AVilliam Andros, 
and tliese two were marched to and fro in front of tlie company, to tlie great admira- 
tion of their comrades. This proved to be only a ruse of the captain to test the cour- 
age of his men. 



ArrENDix. 2T7 

EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS OF BUXTOX. 

At a lejjal meeting held March 30, 1778, Capt. John Eldcii moderator, 
Voted £30 to suport the familys of those that have gone into the Con- 
tinental army. 

At a meeting March IG, 1770, Voted £109 for the familys of those 
men who are in the Continental army. 

At a meeting July 29, 1770. On the article To see what method 
should be taken to provide 22 pairs of Stockings and 22 pairs of Shoos 
agreable to resolve of Court and to see what the town will give for 
each of sd articles. The vote was to gite Shoos for twenty-five Dolars 
a Pare and Stoakings for sixteen Dolars a Pare and Shurts for 24 Dol- 
ars a Peace. Also voted to chuse a committee to proportion the fomer 
service of soldiers, to see how much each one has done, Sam'l Knight 
Eben Wentworth John Lane Jacob Bradbury and John Smith for such 
committee. 

Special town meeting Oct. 2G, 1779, to see what method and how 
much money the town would vote to buy 11 blankets for the soldiers. 
It was voted 300 Dolars to buy Blankets for the Soldiers. 

At a Town meeting March 14, 1780, It was voted to allow Daniel 
Leavitt for three Poles that went into the army. 

At a town meeting held May IS, 1780, They voted negative on the 
article to see if the town will vote money to hire arms and accutre- 
ments for the soldiers that were sent to Falmouth unequipped. 

Congress made requisitions on the State of Massachusetts Bay for 
2,200,240 lbs. of beef for the use of the Continental army, of which Bux- 
ton was called upon to furnish 4,5G01bs. At a town meeting held Oct. 
IG, 1780, the town voted 28,000 dollars paper currency to purchase beef. 

At a town meeting held August 3rd, 1780, 2nd Article was to see if 
the town would vote to git tlie Shoes and Stockings Shurts and Blan- 
kets required of the tov/n by a resolve of the State 21st of April last. 
3rd To see what the town will give to any person that will procure sd 
articles (4th on a preceding page see note). 

On these articles the town voted. 

On 2nd to procure the clothing for the soldiers. 

On 3rd Voted 110 dollars per pair for Shoes, 89 dollars apiece for 
Shurts, and 80 dollars per pair for Stockings. Voted not to procure 
the Blankets. On the 4th article voted in the negative. 

Something of the private life and traits of character of these men 
are remembered by our older citizens ; but as these drop out, one by 
one, their peculiarities, anecdotes, and individual experiences of that 
war are fading from remembrance. We have swept past the period 
when the mind kindled with enthusiasm at their strange talcs of ad- 
venture, and the halo has vanished from the plain record of the re- 



278 ArrENDix. 

suit. Of our Buxtou nicu, nouo were soldiers by profession, though 
there were cases of decided military talent among them, and several 
of them held commissions. We do not claim that they were superior, 
but they certainly were not inferior, to their comrades in arms. In 
common with them, they felt, proved, and suftered the terrible reali- 
ties of that struggle. Among the first to rally at Freedom's call, they 
shared in its consecration on Bunker Hill, they trod with bleeding 
feet the snowy banks of the Schuylkill and the Hudson, thej' wrestled 
with despair and famine at Valley Forge, they stood with the remnant 
of the army of Washington, when on that memorable Christmas night, 
17TG, he trimmed his lamj) of hope on the frozen shores of the Dele- 
ware, they shared in the battles of the northern campaign and wit- 
nessed the surrender of Burgoyne on the field of Saratoga, and in the 
Virginia and Carolina campaign they followed the fortunes of Greene 
until the surrender of Earl Cornwallis, at Yorktown, virtually closed 
the war. Of the magnificent results of that revolution they realized 
comparatively little. The country was poor, nearly bankrupt, and of 
doubtful permanence in its new regime, while they lived in the 
penumbra of its glory and died in ignorance of the rich heritage tlicy 
had left us. 

Many of them sleep in unmarked graves, and the busy and prosper- 
ous present generation may now cleave the moss from the tablets of 
their memory and search out "the deeply engraven lines of public 
gratitude." 



To the fellow-members of the committee on publication, who en- 
trusted to me this charge, while I render thanks for this manifestation 
of your confidence, I must say, in apology for the tardiness in complet- 
ing this volume, that I have been met, at every step, with obstacles 
which I forbear to mention, and which may have called out criticisms 
for this trespass on your patience. 

The time, however, not wholly lost, has afforded an oi^portunity for 
a candid review of the matter, which has been enlarged, revised, and 
mostly rewritten, and as a historical document has acquired a value 
not to be found in a hasty compilation. 

To Dr. A. K. P. Meserve, in particular, is due the praise for active 
exertions in this behalf, and his timely aid in completing arrangemeJits 
for the printing and other preliminary matters, when a severe illness 
on my part compelled a suspension of the work, has merited an ex- 
pression of my personal gratitude. 



INDEX. 



Act granting land to Nan-aganset sol- 
diers 20 

Act of Incorporation 85 

Adams, Joseph 128 

Address, Historical 17 to 89 

" of AVelcoiue 11 

" Williams' Centenuial. .49, 94, 214 

Affidavit of Natlianiel JNIighill 36 

Ablen, Col. Icliabod 273 

All, John 234 

Allen, Elisha 23G 

Alley, Ephraim 276 

Andrews, Elisha 17G, 185, 218, 276 

Elizabeth 208 

" "William 251, 272, 274, 276 

Appendix 141 

A Mi, B 147, C 149, D 152, E 156, F 103, 
a ICS, II 171, I 173, J 175. K 178, L 18i», 
U 181, N 183. O 189, P 193, Q 198, R 200, 
S 207, T 210, U 211, V 217, W 220, X 227, 
Y 229, Z231, Twenty-seven 243, A A 247. 
BB 248, CC 250, DD 252, EE 256, FF 
259, GG 267, HH 2G8 

Appleton, Daniel 161, 169 

" Elizabeth 208 

" Isaac 28,150 

" John 237 

Appropriation for repairing meetiug- 

honse 54 

Appro'u for mending highways 54, 55 

" " ministerial charges 54, 55 

" " settling bounds witli adja- 
cent towns 55 

Asa, John 235 

Assessors, etc., chosen 54 

Atkinson 183 

" Abigail 185 

" Amos 187 

" Anna 185, 186 

" Charles 185, 188, 249 

" EUzabeth 173, 185 

" Enoch 187 

'■• Eunice 184, 187, 188 

" Humphrey 

55, 76, 82, 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 258 

Ail;inson, James 186, 258 

John.. 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 2G7 

Joseph. . . .173, 174, 183, 184, 185 

18S, 188, 214, 2G2, 2G4 

Atkinson, >Iary 184, 185, 187, 188 

" Moses. . .49, 96, 184, 183, 186, 188 

218, 258, 267, 274, 276 

Atkinson, Nancy 187 

" Olive---- 185,186 

" Pauline 185 

" Polly 186 

" Samnel 185 

Sarah 183, 184, 185. 187, 250 

Stephen 58,187 

Susanna 185, 187 

TheodOxe..l83, 184, 187, 188, 267 

Thomas . . .58, 1G8, 183, 184, 185 

ISO, 187, 188, 251, 266, 267 

Austen, Ichahod 32 

Ayer, Dr. Aarou 165 

•' Maiy 192 

" Peter 262 

" Timothy ICG 

Ilabb, Hannah 17G 

Bacon, Francis, Esq 128 

Bagshaw, John 23 



Baiiibridge, Harriet 231 

Baker, John 159 

Bands 8, 9 

Bangs, Master 263 

Banks, Clara 166 

" Eliza A 166 

" E.H 166 

" James 166 

Barnard, Mrs. Joanna 147 

Barnes, Ezekiel 174, 205, 214, 25S 

" Laura 258 

" Mary 258 

Polly 186 

Bartlett, Rev. Joseph 10 

Sarah 212 

Bartlit, John 25 

Baum, Col 275 

Bean, Jonathan.. 158, 161, 220, 221, 247,257 

" Mercy 221, 22C 

Be.ard, Samuel , 241 

Belcher, Gov 23 

Bernard, Francis 75, 77 

Berry, George 275 

" Lucy 161 

Bickford, James 230 

Billings, John 1C8 

" Joseph 263 

Blake, Phebe 17G 

Block House 

73, 74, 132, 163, 221, 225, 236, 247 

Bodwell, Henry 236 

Bond, Col 238 

Boothby, Brice 218, 241, 263 

" Enoch 192 

Bounty to builders 25, 26, 29 

Bower 7 

Boyd, James 212 

Boynton 175 

Boyntou, Daniel 176, 177, 274, 276 

" Eliza 177 

" Elizabeth 175 

Hannah 176, 177, 191 

" Isaac 165, 176, 177, 274 

" James 176, 177 

" Jane 177 

" Jolm. .47, 56, 76, 96, 173, 175, 176 
177, 222, 265, 274, 276 

Bovnton, Mollie 146, 173, 176, 177 

Moses 171, 176, 177 

" Samuel 176,177 

William 43, 175, 176, 177 

Bradbury 231 

Bradbury, Abigail 

190, 234, 235, 237, 240, 242 

Bradbury, Ammi R 237 

" Andrew 241 

" Ann 233, 234, 236 

" Anna 237,240,242 

" Barnabas 235 

Beniamin 231, 237, 242, 251 

Betl'iulah 234 

" Betsey 24-2 

Betty 235,237,240 

Brice 242 

Caroline ; 242 

" Cliarles - 237 

Cotton 234,2.35 

Crisp 235 

Daniel 235,240 

' ' Dorcas 240 

Dorinda , 231 

Dorothy 236 



280 



INDEX. 



Brarlbury, Edmund 241 

" Edward 2;J5 

Elijah. .96, 241, 213, 271, 275, 270 

" Elizabeth 

103, 232, 234, 235, 230, 237, 2-10, 241, 242 
Bradbury, Euocli 13 242 

Esther 237 

" Eanice 237, 242 

Hannah 240 

•' Isaac 212 

181, 187, 232,' 233, 234,'2.';7i '240, '243 

Bradbury, Jacob 02, 112, 159, 179, 219 

222, 232, 233, 235, 236, 237, 240 
241. 242, 251, 201, 265, 276, 277 

Bnvibury, James 234, 235 

James W 234 

" Jane 232, 230 

" Jemima 2.'«> 

" Joanna 235 

' ' Jolin..232, 233, 234, 235, 237, 242 

" Joseph 

234, 235, 237, 240, 241, 212 

Bradbury, Judith 232 

Lucy 234, 235, 237, 240 

" Maria 2.34 

Martha 192, 241, 242 

" Mary 

164, 219, 232, 233, 235, 237, 241, 242 

Bradbury, Matthew 231, 232 

" Mercy 237 

" Miriam 241, 242 

Molly 237, 240,241 

" Moses 

143, 145, 236, 237, 240, 241 

" Nancy 242 

" Olive 235, 237 

" Kobert 232 

" Rebecca 235, 237 

Kuth 2.35 

Sally 242 

" Samuel 235, 237, 240 

" S.arah 

192, 234, 235, 236, 237, 240, 242 

Simeon G 219, 241 

" Susan 237 

" . Susanna 192,235 

" f 'apt. Tiiomas. . 41, 51, 73, 74, 96 

132, 103, 173, 232, 233, 234, 230, 247. 201 

209, 271, 270 

Bi-adburj-, Thomas 

179, 210, 229, 230, 235, 237, 240 
Br.adbury, Lieut. Thomas, joiuuialof. .238 

" AV'illiani. 

51, 231, 232, 233, 235, 236, 237, 240, 251 

Bradbiu-y William F 241 

Winthrop 90, 241, 242, 27() 

" "Wymoud 232, 233, 234 

Bradstreet, Andrew 142, 20 J 

Bragdou, Ezckiel 

159, 181, 271, 272, 274, 27G 

Bragdon , Samuel 24 

Brewster, Chas. 11 7 

" " " letter from 138 

" John 70 

" Dr. Royall 174, 17.5, 215, 219 

Brier Richard 1,")0 

Bridge at Salmon Ealls 2.50 

" " " " subs. for. ..251, 252 

Broad turn 47 

Brooks 1.50 

Brooks, Aaron 162 

Abigail 101 

" Alexander 101 

" Benjamin 102 

Bethia 100, 101, 102 

" Catharine 162 

" Charles 102 

Col 273 

" Dorcas 1C2 



Brooks, Eliza ICl 

" EUeu 161 

" Hannah 159, 102 

" Harriot 162 

" Isaiah. . ..81, 144, 157, 158, 159, 100 

161, 103, 174, 207, 251. 270 

Brooks, John, 27, 28, 32, 40, 41, 44, 40, 50, .59 

70, 79, 1,50, 157, 158, 159, 100, 101, 102,207 

Brooks, Jonathan 144, 101 

" Joseph 102 

" Margaret Ann 102 

.Alarv 102 

" Mosi's 102 

" XatKV 102 

" Natlian v 162 

" Nathaniel X 102 

" Olive .\....16l 

" Phebe 158, 161 

" Robert. . . .32, 41, 1.50, 157, 156, 100 
101, 102, 180, 272, 274^ 270 

Brooks, Rutli 162 

Sally 162 

" Samuel 161, 271,274,276 

" Sarali 

152, 150, 157, 158, 161, 162, 180 

BroolvS, "William 161 

Brown, Asa 104, 132, 139, 219, 265 

John 60, 1,52 

" Thomas 243 

Bi-j'ant 252 

Bryant, Benjamin D 214 

"" Epliraini 146 

Mary 146 

Samuel 228 

IJuvgojiie, Gen 273, 275 

Buruham, Lydia 159, 181 

" Sarah 146, 161 

Burt, Rev. J. JI., Reply of 129 

Buss, Elizabeth 233 

" John 232 

Butlei', John E., Response of 119 

Butterlield, Josiah 228 

Bu.xton, Act of incorporation of 85 

" Sons and Daughters of, toast 

to 110 

Bu.xton, Sons of, in late war 122 

The future of 130 

" Town of 114 

Caesar 255, 250 

Came, Ch.arles (J 108 

" " " roem bv 109 

" Pelatiah ' 113, 151- 

'• Sanmel 147,174 

Carnos, Uepsibah 213 

Cart road to Saco 43, 40 

Centennial Address, Williams' 252 

" Exercises 5 

Chamberlain, Gen. J. L 9 

" Mrs.J.L 136 

Chandler, Samuel 20, 21. 23 

Cliase, Abner 259 

" Amos. . .41, 74, 82, 158, 159, 236, 252 

" Moses 236 

'•■ Rebecca 74 

" Samuel 24, 27, 28, 29, 32, 35 

Cliattcrlow, Robert 231 

Clunch, First deacons of 70 

Etliriccs, Toast to 129 

' ' Records 18 

Chute, Dea. James 24, 25 

Clark, Cliarles O 234 

" Dr. Jolui 175 

Clay, Benjamin 274, 276 

'• .Jonatlian 60 

" Richard. .50, 07, 96, 142, 143, 274, 270 

Cleaves, Betsey 228 

Clt;rk, used for clergyman 42 

Col>b, Widow 92 

" Mary 192 



INDEX. 



281 



Coffin 211 

Coffin, Abigail 2t5 

" Anna 211 

" Charles 212.213 

" Charles, Esq. . .48. 53, f.7, 58, G4, 6G 
70.128, 148, 149, Ifi."?. 171, 174, 179, 182 
205, 207, 210, 211, -,^13, 21G. 247, 2'>3, 264 

Coffin, David 58, 212, 215, 21G 

" Deborah 211 

". Elizabeth , 214, 215 

"' Enoch 212 

" Enuice 211 

" James 211,212 

" Joan 211 

" John 211, 212 

" D 70 

" (4 215 

" Tine 211 

" Col. Joseph 2-5, 34, 35. 44. 45, 47 

54, 62, G4, 77, 160, 212, 217 

Coffin, Joshua 175, 21 1, y]2 

'• Marv 211,212,214 

" Nathaniel 160,212,217 

" Nicholas 211 

" Rev. Paul. . .18, 24, 54, 55. 56, 57. 58 

59. 60, 61. 62, G3. 64, 66, 68, 69. 72. 77, 73 

104, 143,144, 179. 207, 210, 211, 212, 213 

217, 226. 229, 2.54, 260, 261, 262, 266 

Coffin, Rev. Paul, Ordination of 

62, G3. 64. 70 

Coffin, Paul, jr 214, 251, 255 

'• Peter 211 

" Rebecca 216 

" Sarah 212,215 

" Susannah 212, 21G 

" Stephen 211, 212, 215 

" Tristram 211, 2l2 

Colcord, Edward 143 

Cole, Abigail 237 

" Eli 249 

" John 

56, 76, 96, 218, 258, 271, 272, 273, 274, 276 

Cole, Kat 249 

" Samuel 258, 271, 273, 276 

" William 251 

Coli.seum 9 

Coolbroth, Daniel 271, 276 

James 271,276 

" Jonathan 249 

Com. on building meeting hou.se. . . .29, 59 

Committee, Executive 6 

" Gsneral on- celebration... .5, 6 

of IpsvYieh Society. .21, 22, 23 

" on preaching. .4G,"54, 55, 57, 59 

'■ on publication 2 

" on settling Paul Coffin. .. . 56 

" to lay out lots 24 

" to fix town boundaries. .59, 72 

Conner, Samuel 142 

Cottou, John 77 

" Sarah 2.35 

Crcssy, .Tohn 2G3 

Crockett, Martha 1C5, 194 

" Susan 242 

Cross, Sarah 10;j 

Currency, depreciated 26 

Cunier, "Timothy , 25 

Gushing, Thomas 8G 

Cutter, Ammi Rahamah 157 

Cutting grass in meadows 28, 42, 44 

Cutts, Samuel 70, 263, 265 

" Thomas 70, 160 

Dane, Philemon 19, 21, 2.3, 24 

Davenport, ISIary 210 

Davis, Charity 105 

" Daniel 259 

" Ichabod 259 

" .Jacob 41, 243 

■' John 179 



Davis, John M 32 

" Phebe 162 

" Priscilla 2.50 

" Susannah 169 

•' Thomas 96, 276 

" ■\Villiam OG, 275, 276 

Davison, Johanna 199 

Day, Ebcnezcr 147 

Deiine, Dr. Ezra 215 

Dearing, Hannah 189 

Dedham Plain 19 

Delinquent Grantees "^^' '^^ 

Dennett 227 

Dennett, Abigail 191 

Alexander 227 

Alvau 229 

Betsey £28 

Charles 227 

Clement 190, 228 

Daniel 18. 24. 48, 49, 58 

" David 58, 144, 227, 228, 2C6 

Dolly 2.^8 

" Dorcas 2^8 

'• Ebenezer 228 

Edmund P 229 

Elizabeth 227,228 

" Eunice 228 

Hannah 227 

Harriet 228 

" John 227, 228, 229, £67 

" Lvdia 227, 22,S 

Mary 227 

Meh'itable 228 

Moses 227 

Olive 229 

" Orin 229 

" Patience 228 

" Phebe 228 

Polly 228 

Samuel 81, 191, 227, 228, 253 

" G 223 

Sarah 228 

Stephen 229 

Dennett's JIap. . . .18, 24, 25, 27. 48. 50, 144 

145, 149, 159, 161, 163. 172, 179, 187. 207 

218, 220, 222, 224, 248, 265 

Dennison, .Tohn 142 

Discourse, Historical 17 to 89 

Dole, Sarah 212 

Dolloff, Mary 190 

Donel, Benjamin 7G 

" John 76 

" Mary 235 

Dow, Joseph 200 

Downing, Dolly 227 

Dresser, Jane 244 

Drouth of 1762 75 

Dunn 173 

Dunn, Eliz.abetli 257, 259 

" Joshua 41, 173 

■' " Response by 120 

" Jloses 174 

" Nathaniel 173, 181, 214, 257 

•' Olive 204, £63, 265 

" Sarah 174 

Dunnell 168 

Dunnell, Abigail 170 

Alice 1(;8 

" Anna 168,195 

" Benjamin 44, 57, 1C8, 169 

Betsey ' 169 

" Cynthia 197 

" Diadema 170 

" Heniy 192 

" .Toanna 170 

John 57, 168,170 

" S 192 

.Joseph 1C8, 109, 197 

" Joseph, Address by 11 

" M.arkll 90 



282 



INDEX. 



/ 



Diinnell, Mark IT., Oration bv 91 

" Mehitable ".108, 1G9, 21!) 

" Molly 1G8, KiO 

" Sauuiel 108,194,105 

D'.irgan, Master ^a") 

l>urr(.'ll ITS 

DihtlII, Benjamin 41, 178 

" JMoscs 178 

" Nathaniel 32, 178 

Earle, Abin;ail 115 

" Josliua 145, 240 

Ealoa, Abij,'ail '241) 

" Anna ICG 

" John 163, 203 

" Tristram 77". . " 

92, 101, 172, 179, 2Uj, 249, 254, 201 

Kfbly, Ward. . . .'. .272, 270 

Eilgecomb 148 

Edgecomb, James 153 

" Jemima 200 

" Rachel: 153, 200 

" Relianc(3 153 

" Robert 200 

Edi^erley, John 101, 271, 273, 270 

Eldon 149 

Eldeu, Abigail 151 

" Apphia 151 

'• Porcas 151 

" Elizabeth 150 

Emma 150, 151 

(iibeou 150, 151, 259, 207, 270 

" Ilannalj 150, 151 

" James F 151 

•' John, 44, 47, 48, 49, 51, 50. 73, 70, 81 
88, 90, 143, 140, 149, 150. 151, 182, 228, 243 
250, 259, 202, 207, 209, 272, 275, 270, 277 

EMen, Lonisa 151 

Lvdia 150 

" Martha 145, 140, 150, 259 

" Mary 150, 151,237 

" Jloses 151 

" Narcissa 151 

" Nathan 

7. 149. 150, 104, 181, 214, 254, 250 

El len, Nathaniel 151 

11 151,2.50 

'• Olive , 151 

" I'olly l.W 

" Ruth 150,151, 170 

" Samuel 151, 205 

" Sarah 150 

" b:ila.s 151 

" Simon H '250 

" Susanna 151 

" \Villi,am 1,50 

EKlridge, Cant 174 

" Deborah 231 

Elliot, M.astcr 202 

Ellsley, Capt. AVilliam 24, 25 

j:i\vell, Benjamin 03, 194, 271, 273, 270 

" Hannah 170 

" .Tabez 219 

" .John 90, 271, 273 

" Tlifeodorc i;)4 

Emerson, Rev. Jos 04 

Emery 2'<.'0 

Emery, Alex. J 225 

Renjamiu 221, 220, 275, 270 

Retsey 220 

Charles 221, 220 

Daniel 221, 225, 220, 275, 270 

" Dorcas 224, 220 

El>enezcr 2.;3, 224 

Elizabeth 221 

Hannah 224, 225 

Isaac 7, 145, 223, 224 

" ls.aac. Letter from 138 

" James 

57, 04, 76, 220, 221, 223, 224, 225, 220 



Emery, Tames S. . ./. 225 

' ' Jeriisha. . ./ 221 

" John / 224 

" Jonah 224 

" Jonas 225 

Joshua 221, 224, 226 

" Lois 224 

<' Mark 224 

' ' Mark P., Response of 120 

Wary 225 

" jNIercy 221,220 

" Nathaniel 224 

" I'eter. . . .210, 217, 222, 223, 224, 276 

Sally 197,224,220 

Samuel 225 

Susanna 224 

" Thomas 

145, 221, 222, 223, 224, 249, 202, 270 

Emerv, Tliomas F 2 '5 

Everett, Edward, quoted lOy. 101, 102 

Ening, John 191, 214 

Exodus of lirst settlers SO, 40 

Fall, Lydia. 220 

Fairrield, Rev. John 03, 65, 74, 153 

Farmers, Toast to 120 

Fellows, Jonathan 21, 25, 27, 49 

Fenderson, Nancy 219 

Fenny, John 251 

Fields, Daniel 270 

■' Elizabeth 153 

" Sarah 230 

Fields. Jonathan 272, 276 

Files, Lothrop L 105 

Flanders, Rev. Abner 104, 205 

Fletcher, Elizabeth 153 

" Samuel l.'>3 

Flint, Catharine 241 

Flood, Henry 274, 276 

Flucker, Thom.as 86 

Fogg, Abig.ail 23'5 

" Elias 270 

" Fidelia 229 

Folsom, Ann 230 

Fidsom's History of Saeo and Biddc- 

f ord 74. 194. 108, 247, 275 

Fort 37, 43, 47, 49, 73, 74, 181, 247 

Foss, Dorcas 151 

" Ira 11., Remarks of 135 

" James T 107 

" Lory B., Response of 110 

" AViliiam 100 

Foster, Col 275 

Fowle, John, jr 14 i 

Mary 207 

Freeman, Capt. Joshua 00 

Frcothy, Catharine 225 

French, Polly 184 

French AVar 30, 3J, 52, 53 

Fuller 203 

Gaf;e, Hannah 197 

"' Thomas 35, 37, 42, 00, 252 

" & Mvghill 50, 51, 142 

fiainos, John 21 

(iaines' Brook 21, 29, 30 

Gardner, John 258 

(iarland, Hannah 192 

" John. 143, 205, 258 

Joseph 08,217 

" Martha 208 

Mercy 241 

Mrs 172 

Garrison 30, 37, 38, 39, 43, 47, 48 

(rarrison, clearing around 3S 

G.^tes, Rev. 0. 11., Response of 130 

" General 239, 273, 275 

Gay, Mr 202 

Gerrish, Joseph 21, 33, 35, CO 

Gill, Moses, Esq GO 



INDEX. 



283 



Gilpatriolc, Abigail. . . , 220 

" Joseph 147 

Gooding, Joseph 271 

" Neheiuiah 271 

Goodwin, John 211 

Josepli 272, 27G 

" J\r,ary 211 

" Nehemiah 272, 27o 

" I'atience 211 

Capt. Wm. F....5, 1,5, 16, 18, 19 

3i), 32, 51, 145, 171, 231, 246, 24S 

Goodwin's Narraganset. ..15, 18, 23, 27, 3) 

3(j, 42, 51, .53, 56, 5'J, 64, 71, 72, 75, 77, 81 

86, 146, 147, 14'J, 152, 170, 171, 172, 175 

176, 178, 182, 194, 200, 205, 208. 224, 24r, 

247, 253, 273, 274 

Gorges, Fcrdiuando 232, 246 

" Thomas 193 

Gorham, Elizabeth 210 

John 213 

Mary 212,213 

" Xatiiiiiiiel 213, 270 

" Stephen 219 

William 210 

Gould, Betsey 228 

" Nathaniel 215 

Grace 263 

Grandmothers, Our venerabla, Toast 

to 121 

Grant, Benjamin 145, 140 

" Susannah 176 

Grantees, Property act of 20 

iirasi, Disposal of 42, 44, 79, 80, 81, 82 

Gray, Cadwalader. . .214, 2.50, 252, 2.58, 263 

" James .81, 156,220, 2.58 

" Joanna 258 

" John, Esq 23 

Green. Gen 275 

Grceuleat", John, Esq 33 

Grist Mill 44, 45, 51, 81, 83, 267, 268 

Groves, Dr. P. F 259 

Haines, John 185 

Haines' Meadow Brook 30, 105, 251 

Hale, Daniel 25 

" JohnP 7 

" John P., Letter from 137 

" Capt. Joseph 21, .34 

" Moses 235 

" Kichard 35 

" Sar.ah 183 

Haley, Alice 208 

" Hannah 229 

Mrs. Noah 256, 257 

" Olive 187 

Ham, Timothy 203 

Hancock 171 

Hancock, Isaac. .47, 54, 55, 71, 171, 172, 205 

" John 47, 171, 173, 274 

" John Lane 275, 276 

" Mary 176 

" William. .44,46,47, 56, 57, 61, 76 

96, 171, 172, 173, 176, 182, 190, 218, 271 

273, 276 

Hanscom, Anna 220 

" Beniah 220 

" John 06, 197, 276 

" Jlehitable 108 

" Sarah _ 1.54 

Hanson, John 151 

" JMich.ael 161, 230 

Harding, Eunice 2.30 

" Sally 230 

Harmon, Daniel 167 

" Hannah 223 

" Jesse G 208 

" Joel 276 

" Lydia 197 

" Olive 161 

" Pelatiah 185, 216, 27C 



Harmon, Phincas 240 

" SamuelM 167 

" Thomas. .96, 168, 224, 251, 275, 276 
" William F 167 

HaiTis, Samuel 239 

237 



H 

Haskell, INIary 

" Washington 

Hawkes, Benjamin 

" Deborah 

" Joshua 

Havnea, Samuel 

llazeltiue, Samuel 176, 

" Susanna 

" Timotliv 

44, 47, 56, 57, 60, 61, 02, 70, 73, 76, 73, 

Hearne, John 181, 263, 

Hpinmenway, Kev. Mr C3 

Hidden, Mehitablc 

Hif^hways 3S, 40 

Hill. 



16t 
165 
142 
112 
249 
214 
177 
242 

218 
264 
, C4 
244 



Hill, Abiel 193 

" Abigail 165, 197 

" Achsah 168, 19.5 

" Anna 198 

" Benjamin 103, 191 

" Daniel. .96, 165, 192, 196, 197, 272, 276 

" Dorothy 194 

" Ebeuezer. . 103, 194, 196, 107, 198, 223 

" P:iizabeth 197 

" Hannah 193 

" Jeremiah 51, 55, 59, 71, 78, 79, 85 

96, 163, 193, 194, 196, 197, 198, 272 

Hill, John 193, 194, 195 

" JohuD 169,105 

" Joseph 193, 195, 197, 198, 265 

" Joshua 194 

" Lydia 194 

" Mark 197, 265 

" Martha 107 

" Mary 197,198 

" Mercy 193 

" Moses G 165 

" Nathaniel. .96, 165, 179, 193, 194, 195 
196, 197, 108, 224, 276 

Hill, Peter 168, 193, 197 

" Priscilla 191 

" Rebecca 197 

" Richard 197 

" Roger 193 

" Ruth 197 

" Samuel 51, 168, 193, 195, 198 

" Sarah 193,197 

" Susan 195,223 

" Susanna 194, 198, 223 

" Thomas 194, 197 

" William 197 

Hiiliard, AVilliam T 128 

Hob.son 243 

Hobson, Adaline 245 

" Alvau 245 

" Amos 245 

" Andrew 245 

" Ann 244 

" Betsey 245 

" Caleb 244 

" Elizabeth 244 

" Enoch B 245 

" Hannah 245 

" Hepsib.ah 244 

" Humphrey 244 

•' Jabez 245 

" James 245 

'< Jeremiah 244, 245 

" Joanna 245 

" John. .20, 21, 23, 24, 36, 39,243, 244 

Joseph 243, 244, 245, 251 

" Joseph, Response of US 

'< Lydia 245 

<< Martha 244 



284 



INDEX. 



HoKiOn, ^fary , .. £4t 

" Moses 244 

" Nancy 215 

" Kivchel 245 

" Rebecca 245 

" Samuel 243, 244, 245 

" Sarah 244 

" Thomas jNI 245 

" William 244, 245 

llodgilon, Eliza 1(;8 

J lodt,'<lon, Elder ■!;) 

Hood, Amos 7<!, 207 

Hooper, ]?eiiiainin 143 

" Mary 1(;4 

ITopkinson 207 

llopkinson, Acsah 210 

" Alice 200 

, " Bethia 180,208,209 

Caleb. . .203, 200, 221, 275, 2(0 

" Deborah 209, 210 

" Elizabeth 209 

" Kannali J 200 

" Harriett 200 

" James 209 

" John 

73, 1.50, 207, 203, 209, 210, 258, 259, 207 

llopkinson, Jonathan 208, 209 

Joscs. . . .58, 1G.3, 208, 210, 203 

" Lrdia 208,209 

" Jlary 209, 210 

" ?.Ioscs 209 

" Nathan 207, 208, 209 

" Rachel 209 

" Rebecca, 161, 1C2, 208, 209, 258 

" Samuel 208, 209, 210 

" Sarah 200 

" Stephen 208, 209 

" Susanna 240 

" AVilliamS 209 

Uovey, Miss '..'02 

" Samuel 175, 2(59 

" Thomas 100 

Howard, Elihu ISO 

Huntress, James 197 

Huse 203 

llntohinson, Oov 85, 80 

" Jo.-ihua 237 

Incorporation of tov,'u first proposed. . 72 

Indians .seen in Narragau.sct 53 

Injials, Samuel 25, 32 

Introduction to Address 14 

" to Appendix 141 

Invitation Card 

Invocation 10, 114 

Ipswich Society, so called 21, 23 

Irish, Gen. James 204 

Jewett, Capt. George f.9 

" James 70 

" Sarah 241 

Johnson, Edward 232 

Hannah 215 

" Obadiah M, 142 

" Rev 201 

Jordan, Clement 203 

" Joseph 252 

" Rishworth 143 

" Samuel 2.50 

" Simeon 22), 203 

" Tristram 77, 81, 271 

Jose, C. E., Response of 115 

" Hannah 208 

" John 270 

" Mr 90 

" Sarah 11 

Kcav, Anna 230 

Kiniball 142 

Kimball, Amos 58, 144, 147 



Kimball, Daniel 142, 140, 219 

" Deborah 147 

" Eleazer 50,144 

" Elizabeth 144,147 

" Hannah 144, 147 

" Job 144,140 

" John 

50, 78, 142, 143, 144, 145, 140, 153 

ICimlwll, Joshua 24, 142, 143, 144, 145 

140. 147, 190, 191, 251, 252, 258, 200, 207 

Kimball, Lydia 144, 147 

" jSIartha, Anecdote of 1 10 

" Mary .' 147 

" Naomi .". . . .147 

" Richard 144,140 

'< Ruth 117 

" Sarah 144, 146, 147 

Kinsley, Luther 203 

Knight, Ann M 212 

'• Edmund 214 

" Hannah D 230 

" Martha 119 

" Nathan 1!9 

" Samuel 202, 271, 277 

Knox, Gen 273 

Labor, price per day 45 

Labor on road, price per day 72 

Ladies, Toast to 119 

Lane 198 

Lane, Abigail ., 109 

" Adaline 197 

" Anna 186 

" Retsey 2-59 

" Daniel. 53, 83, 9), 152, 167, 180, 109 
201, 202, 204, 205, 218, 271, 273, 270 - 

Lane, Henry 200 

" Isaac. .95, 144, 103, 174, 1,80, 108, 203 

214, 251. 252, 271, 273, 270 

Lane, Jabez. . . .53, 81, 88. 95. 187, 194, 107 

199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 251, 259, 202 

271, 272, 274, 270 

Lano, Joanna 199, 201, 205 

" John. . . .53, 50, 00, 70, 7S, 88, 95, 101 

172, 174, 170, 177. 18.5. 190, 200. 201, 202 

203, 2'J4, 205, 21G, 218, 24^, 209, 274, 275 

270, 277 

Lane, Livinpr 109 

" Hon. M. D. L 202, 203 

" Marv 100 

" I'ollv 193 

" Rachel 245 

" Rebecca 107 

" Samuel 147, 194 

" Sarah 2.t2 

" Stephen 202 

" Stephen P 20-.J 

" Susanna 100 

" Thomas 259 

Law suit, with Scarboro 78, 79 

'• " Rounds vs. McDonald. . ..81, 82 

" " Winslow vs. Atkinson 82 

Lawvers of Buxton 1'28 

Loavitt 189 

Lcavitt, Aaron 192 

Abigail IJO, 191, 257 

Albert J!'3 

" Alice and Anna HI 

Alvah 192 

Anna 192 

" I'.en.iamln 192 

r.etiiia 191 

Betsey 192 

Bradbury 103, 195 

Catharine 192 

Daniel. . . .57, 76, 147, 177, 189, 190 
191. 193, 206, 2-10, 257, 277 

Lcavitt. Eliza H 192 

" Elizabeth 190. 191 , 193 

" Hannah 191, 192 



INDEX. 



285 



Lcavitl, Henry 193 

J;icob j-^- 

" J^ne 192 

" Jeremiah V„" " 1 ^o 

" John 190,192 

" Joseph. .51, 55. 57. 00, 76, 189, 190 
191. 192, 195, 237, 253, 258, 276^ 

Loavilt, Lucinda 192 

Lwcy \-^- 

" Mary ::.: 190,192,228,229 

" Melinda 192 

" Monroe \'i-t 



Nancy. 



192 



Olive 191 

" I'hebe 191 

" SamueV.....nS,76,77,78,189.1?0 
191, 192, 228, 251, 258, 2o9 

Leavitt, Sarah ■ • • ■■■■•■■■• • ^o 

U7, 190, 191, 192, 19G, 197, 25S 

Leavitt, Stedman i • 192 

Susanna {^ - 

" Thomas t.-i-' 

•• Trne ^^'^ 

- Wniiam 192,193 

Leavitfs Mills ^i 

Lefjal Profession, To.ast to l-o 

J^etters » 

Letters, writers' names • • • -^J 

Lewis, Abijah 2(1, ^75, ^^b 

" Esdr 2a,2^b 

" Capt. Hart i'° 

" JouaC 194 

" Samuel -^* 

Libby, Ann 2^9 

I>fV"iel "5 

" Elias 242 

" Frank ''\ 

" Peter "*. --g 

<' pauh 242 

Little, Kev. Daniel. . .58, 62, 63, 64, 71, 212 

" Eliza 210 

" Stephen W 1^^ 

" ■\Villiani 19» 

Log Cabins *Y 

Log Meeting House '^'^ 

Log Stealing. 



41 

Long"feTlo\v,''Elizabctli IfS 

" Stephen l*^ 

Lord, Isaac ]fi 

" James l^li 

" Thomas ," '^'^l 

Loring, Rev. Levi 67, 104, 1|>1 

" Samuel V ■; 1-^ 

Lot.*, Drawing of ' i, 

" First division of f^ 

'■■ Home 21, ^8 

" Ministerial '2 

" Second division of p£ 

" Third division of <' 

Maburv. Capt. Eichard „•; •?l2 

ivlarshall, Capt. Joel 24, 14( 

Martin 1 ' " 

Miirtinj David 44, 56, 157, 158, 159, 178 

" Hannah log 

" John 159,1(8 

" Joseph 232 

" Road •''^ 

" Robert, Anecdote of P4 

Martin's Road •''5' ,,',a 

Swamp..: 43, 47, 178, 1S2 

Mason, Hannah 1'^ 

Maverick, Rebecca 232, -33 

McDonald, Robert ^1' 2t 

McDougal, Gen. Alex 2,4 

McKeuney, Lucy 2ff 

McLellan, Capt. Alex 2(.j 



ISIcLucas, Elizabeth 16o 

" Hannah ''•'' 

'< Mary 175,17b 

Meeting House ■••■••■• „. 

28, 29, 33, 37, 38, 45, 54, 55, 59, 78, 80, 84 

Meeting House, First site of 37 

'■ " Lot 24,71 

T>Ierrill ' 1*^"^ 

Merrill,' Abel 163, 165, 197, 234 

" Albion 16^ 

" Almira IW' 

" AnnM \fi 

" Annette 1"' 

'• Ansel l'''J 

" P.en.i.F It't) 

" lienj. J IJ^Jj 

'• I'etsey fi^ 

r.radbnry 16'j 

" Charles 16( 

« Daniel 166,167,259 

DnniclL 165 

Eliza Ifio 

Elizabeth 104, 1G5, 166, 23b 

'• Ellen 166 

" Hannah 166 

" Harriet 165 

Humphrey 163, 165, 230, 26-3 

.; Isaac 167 

" James 165, 106 

" Jane 163,229 

" Jeremiah H 165 

John. . ..146, 164, 165, 1G6, 167, 259 

" Joseph 166 

" Joshua 166 

Lemuel 249 

" Lucy 165 

" Martha 164, 16.d 

« Mary 164, 165, 166, 16( 

" >!ary J 166 

" ISIulberry M 163 

<< Nancy 166, lb< 

" Nathaniel H 165 

" Rebecca 167,259 

" Roscoe G 16' 

(i p.uth 164, 165, 166 

" Samuel. ... 44, 47, 53, ,54, 55, 56, .59 

70, 78, 146, 160, 163, 164, 166, 173, 229 

236, 2.37, 261, 267, 269, 272, 276 

Jlerrill, Hon. S.amuel 165 

" Hon. Samuel, Letter from — 137 

" Samuel 1? 166 

" Rev. S. H., Invocation by 114 

' ' Rev. S. H ., Remarks of l.?2 

■' Sarah 73, 164, 165, 176, 236 

" Stephen 220 

" Thomas 104,16.5,252 

" "William 95, 104, 105, 166, 276 

" Wvnian 166 

]\rerritt, Lucy ; • ' ' •/ ' 'loi 

Jleserve, Dr. A. K. P., Remarks ot. . .134 

Mighill, Capt. Nathaniel ...28, 3b 

^" Stephen 80, 35, .37, 42 

Mill Privilege 26, 78, SI, 82 

MiUiken, Nathaniel 26( 

" Priscilla. . . 

" William 

Military Companies 

" Company, First 

Moody, Renjamiu 3o 

Caleb 2.32 

" James 271,2,6 

" Judith -^33 

" Master 104 

" Rev. Silas 58, 254, 200, 261 

Moore, Hugh ^■■■'£.'^. 

" Jo'nn 2(1, 2(o 

Mary 17( 

Morgnvitlge, Sanmel *>■> 

MoiTill, Rev. Moses G3, 65, 200 

J.Iorrissey, Fr.ancis 104, 203, 264 



.168 

. 25 

■7,8 

53 



286 



INDEX. 



Morss, ^largaret 212 

Mosher, Benjamin 104 

IMoultoii, Jeremiah 157, iOl 

Muchemore, JoUu 175 

Murch, Hannah 170 

:Myrick, Hannah 203 

" Sarah 1S3 

Xarraganset Country ID 

" Intliaus Id 

" IS'o. One. .23, 42, 43, 69, CO, 61 

C2, C", 71, 75, 70, i>0, 82, 85, l.'BO, 158 
KaiTagan.-set, Ko. One, Act continuing 

survey of 23 

Nan-aganset, Xo. One, Original sur- 
vey of 22, 23 

Xarraganset, Xo. One, Petition to 

General Couit 31, 75 

Xarraganset, Xo. One, Petition for 

meeting 34, 47 

Xarraganset, Xo. One, Separate exist- 
ence of 23 

Xarraganset, Xo. One, Warrant for 

meeting 38 

Xason 200 

Xason, Benjamin 200 

" Cliarity 200 

Edward 200 

John 50, C-^ 70, 73, 76, 81, 160 

190, 206, 207, 269, 270, 271 

Xason, Joseph 206, 207 

Margaret 206 

" Moses 206 

Xicholas 200 

" llobert 200 

" Samuel 200 

" Sarah 206 

Xewbury Xarraganset 37 

Xixon, Ool. Thomas 274 

Xortheud, Elizabelli 244 

Xorton, James 2(i3 

Xowell, Elizabeth 190 

" John 189 

" :Marv 201 

" Capt. Peter iiOl 

Sarali 100 

" Thomas 189 

Xutter, Lemuel 228 

Oration 91 to 107 

Order of Gener.al Court on petition for 
forfeiture of delinquent proprietors.. 82 

Our Church Ediiices, Toast to 129 

Ou'en, Abigail 161 

" iietsev • 166 

Daniel M 167 

" Elijah 219 

" Joliii 96, 197,240,276 

" William 167 

Page, Elizabeth 164, 242 

•' Jerry 237 

" Mary 237 

" Robert 'i37 

" liuth 237 

Paine, Pliebe 197, 263, 264 

" Thomas 19r 

Palmer, Jamo.s 242 

" Joses 186 

" Kicluird 251,267 

" Steplicn 240 

Parker, Chase 74, 251 

Parsons, Lydia 245 

Patten, .James 231 

I'atterson, Susanna 146 

I'aul, Xancy 193 

I'avue, Marv 235 

" Peter 192 

" Zenas 164, 214, 264 

Pavson, Mekitable 214 



Peace Proclaimed 41 

Pearl, Eliza 162 

Pearson, Dorcas 244 

Penuoll, Epliraim 1.59 

" James 159 

" Thomas 159,219 

Pcperell, Sir William 201 

Perambulating town lines 40, SO 

Perkins, John 232 

" Mary 232 

Petition to General Court SI, 75 

" for forfeiture of riglits. . . .33, 35 

Pews, First in Meeting House 80 

Phinuey, Col 275 

" John 189,253 

" Sarah 189 

Photogr.aphic Views .... 71 

Pike, Marv : 183, 212 

" Sarah 231!, 234 

" AVilliam 228 

Piper, Jane 237 

Plaisted, Jane 242 

" Koger 90,276 

Plan of Xarraganset, Xos. One and 

Seven 22, 24 

Pleasant Point. . . .49. 73, 148, 182. 184, 188 
189, 208, 210, 243, 256, 258, 259, 206 

Pleasant Point Burying Ground 256 

Plumer, Samuel 207 

Poem 109 to 1 13 

Pollit, John i,32 

Popidatiou in 1742 36 

iiil777 271 

Prayer (Kev. J. liaitlett) 10 

(Rev. S. H. Merrill) 114 

Preface 3 

Prcscott, Hannah 2.58 

" Stephen 59,253 

Px-esident of the day 9 

" of the day, Remarks by 

10, 13, 90, 103 

President of U. S., To.ast to 115 

Proprietors' Meetings 24, 25, 28, 29, 33 

38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. 47, 54, 55, 57, 59 
60, 72, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 

Rand, INIichael 9G, 275, 276 

Randall, Margaret 162 

Rankins, Joseph 169 

Raymond, Capt 239 

Redlon, Kidlon, Ridley 152 

Redlon, Abigail 1.54 

'• Abraham 352, 154, 1.55 

" Amos 1.54 

" Anna 153, 154 

" Daniel 152,154 

" David 273,270 

" Ebeuezcr .57, 90, 152, 153, 154, 

15.5, 261, 271, 273, 274, 270 

Redlon, Elizabeth 152, 154 

" Hannah 155 

•' Isaac 154 

" Jacob. . . .57, 152, 153, 1.54, 155, 1.56 

" James 153, 272,270 

" Jeremiah 1,52, 1.54, 155 

" John 41 , 14, 1.52, 1,53, 1.54, 155 

156, 157, 158, 159 

Redlon, .Tonatluin 1.53 

" Magnus. .32, 152, 153, 154, 155, 150 

" I\lary 153 

JIattliias.152, 153, 154, 155, 272, 276 

" Xatluiniel 1.55 

•' Rachel 1.53 

" Robert. . . 1,52, 154, 155 

« Sarah 153, 1.54, 1.58 

" Susanna 152, 154 

" Thomas 153 

Reed, Sarah 215 

Resolutions of 1774 , 209 

Retor, Moses 243 



INDEX. 



287 



Eevolntionary War 208 

" "Wfiv, Resolutions con- 

coniiiig 2G9 

Eevolutionaiy "War, Votes concern- 
ing 2(1 

Tvcynor, Ann 244 

Rice, Klizabetli 215 

Richardson 239 

Ridlev, Mark 154 

Ridloii, David 90, 154, 27G 

];oads 55, 72, 73, 78 

Roberts 180 

Roberts, Abigail- • 181 

" Anna If^l 

Jacob 180 

" James , "oS 

" Job 44,47,56,60,76,157,159 

icy, 174, 175, 180, 181, 252 

Roborts, Elizabeth 150 

Joseph 150, 181 

Marv 159,181 

" Sarah 181 

" Snsanna 181,184 

Robinson, Col. Lemuel ^^-J 

Roarers, Rev. Ezekiel 1"5 

Rolfe 1*8 

Roife, Enoch 1"5 

" Jeremiah OG, 179, 27G 

" Joanna I'O 

" John 179, 19G 

" Samuel 44, 57, 76, 178, 179, 206 

Rose, Joseph 243 

Rounds Family 249 

Rounds, Gerry ^2 

" James 98, 1C5, 271, 276 

" Joseph 81, 82, 263, 275, 276 

Lemuel 96,274, 276 

Mark 263 

" Samuel 275,276 

" Theodore 275, 276 

RugglPS, Arvilla 197 

Rutherford, Rev. Robert 200,i01 

Sabasten, "William 239 

Saco Block House 73, 225, 236, 247 

Saco and Biddeford Choral Union 

9, 10, 114, 134 
Saco and Biddeford, Folsom's Histo- 

ly of 74, 194, 198, 248, 275 

Saiford, Anna 187 

" Stephen 56 

Saidler, Abiel 160 

Salmon Falls 37, 43, 45,^ 50 

Sanders, Elizabeth 235 

Sands 217, 263 

Sands, Abigail 220 

" Aphia 219 

" Benjamin 219 

" Dorcas 220 

" Elizabeth 219, 220 

" Ephraim 

70, 217, 2.18, 219, 220, 253, 258, 206, 274, 276 

Sands, James 

32, 217, 218, 219, 220, 253, 262, 263 

Sands, John 220, 258, 272, 276 

•' Joseph 219 

" Lydia 159,219,220 

" Mary 220 

'' Ruth 149,219 

•' Samuel 168,219,237 

'• Thomas 57, 217, 220, 253 

Saw-mill. . . .27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42 
45, 49, 51, 81, 82, 83, 159, 254, 268 

Sawyer Ki'l 

Sawyer, Barnabas 261, 262, 2G3, 264 

" James 166 

'' Rebecca 245 

Scammon, Mrs 54 

" Hannah 



Isaac. . . . 



T 



.11)2 



Scammon, James 214, 2^2 

" John 2i,8 

" MaiT 253 

Samuel 78,82,153 

Schools 20, 25, 58, 59, 83, 259 

School IIonac..58, 59, 117,203, 264, 205, 266 

Scluiyler. (ien 273 

Seavcy, Elizabeth 144 

Settlement, IVrmanent 42 

" Seven Hundred Acres" 14,22 

Severs, William H 228 

Sewall 257 

Sewall, Samuel 23 

Shaperd, Thomas 239 

Sharpe, Joseph 231 

Sheapord, Timothv 25 

Shirley, Gov. William 30, 37, 15* 

Sliove, Edward 20, 21, 23 

Slnite, Michael 191 

Simpson, Asa 96, 27C 

" Joseph 252 

" Webster 239 

Smith, Daniel IM 

'• Ebenezer 276 

" John 

197, 263, 271, 273, 275, 276, 277 

Smith, Joseph 96,147 

" Mary 194 

" Master 104 

" Samuel 96,271,276 

William 96,276 

Somerby, Henry 21- 

" Judith 212 

Stackpole, Lieut. John 50 

Stackpole's Brook. . .. 50, 83, 144, 179, 182 

Stanyau, John 232 

" Mary 233 

Staples. Rebecca 198 

Stark, General 275 

Stevens, Dionis 211 

John 236 

Stevenson, Sophia 229 

Stickuey, Samuel '■^^ 

Stone, Benjamin 23 

" Elizabeth 219 

Storkman, EUzabeth 234, 235, 2.36 

" John 234 

Survey, Original 22 

Swan, Richard 235 

" Robert ■" 143 

Sweat, Betsey 228 

Swett, Joseph "1 

Tables 7' 9 

Tarbox, John 1<>5 

" Sarah 180 

T.ax, Sale of land for 79, 80 

Taxation .and Valuation 267 

Tenney, Rebecca ^08 

Thacher, S. P. S 1^8 

Tliompson, Rev. Mr 57 

" Samuel I'O 

" Theodore 220 

Tilestonc, Col. Thomas 20, 21, 23 

Toasts 11'^ 

Towle,' ipiiiiieas'. '. '. 190, 272, 274, 270 

Townseud, Jacob 151 

'< Massie 1;^4 

" Rachael '^9^ 

Travel by Chaise ■210 

Trespassers 40, 41, 'i4 

Treworgy , John "•^" 

TVue, Henry 232 

" Jaue ^ • • ~f-^, 

" Jemima 235, 236 

" William 2.% 

Tufts, Rev. Joshua 57 

Tucker, Rev. John 65 

Tapper, Col. Benj 2( j 

Tyler, Alice 242 



28S 



INDEX. 



Usher, Ellis B 16-J 

" Hannah 104, 174 

" Zachariah 191, 214 

Valuation, etc 2G7 

Vanuim, Sarah 244 

Col 275 

Vauglian, Eliot, retition of 32, 33. .34 

Yose, Col. Joscpii 272 

Waldo, Samuel 201 

Warren, Benjamin 214 

Capt. Jo3ei)h F., Response 



of. 



.122 



WaiTon, Samuel 20) 

Watcii and >Vai-d 52 

Waterman, Capt. William 210, 249 

Watts, Samuel 210 

Wayne, Col 238 

Weare, Ruth 235 

Webster, Abigail 197 

" Daniel, quoted. . .98, 99, 102, 103 

Wedgwood, E. W 128 

Weld, C. E.. Response of . .125 

Wendell, John n» 201 

AVentworth 229 

AVeatworth, Betsey 230 

Daniel 230 

" Ebenezer. . ..103, 229, 230, 277 

" Jane 2.30 

'•■ John 276 

Paul 230 

•' Robert 50, 230 

•' Samuel 230 

" Sar,ah 230 

" Tappan 264 

" Thomas 230 

" Timothy 229 

" AViHiam 229, 230, 265 

AVheelright, John 235 

AVliite, Joseph 192 

S 76 

" Samuel 15S 

" Rev. Timothy 42, 43, 57 

AVhitgift, Elizalieth 232 

" Sir AVilliam 232 

AVhitmoro. Daniel 198 

AVhitnev, Bettv 170 

'• ' Jonathan 271,275,270 

" Mioah 272,276 

" Tsathan 32,252 

Stephen 274, 275, 276 

" Susan 165 

" Susanna 151 

AVigglesworth, Col 238 

Williams' Cen. AdtU-ess. . ..49, 94, 214, 252 

AVilson 178 

AA'ihon, Elizabeth 50, 179 

" Joim 44, 179, 252, 273, 276 

Vringatc, Snell 210, 224, 202 



Woodiu, John 243, 244 

AVoodmau, Abigail 257 

" Amos 242,257 

" Anna 168 

" Beni 25, 118, 274, 275, 276 

l?etsey 186 

' • Cyrus, Historical Discoui-se 

by 17 

AVoodman, Cyrus, Preface to Address 

by 14 

AVoodman, Edward 148 

" Elizabeth 217 

" Ephraim 96,276 

" Geo. AV. Esq., Response 

of 123 

AVoodman, James 251, 274, 275, 270 

.Tohn . .48, 96, 1G5, 174, 179. 250 

251, 253, 250, 257, 262, 286, 267, 271, 273 

275, 276 

Woodman, Joseph. . .27, 28, Z1, 40, 41, 44 

47, 4S, 50, 53, 55, 56, 57, 59, GO, 62, 71, 76 

79, 128. 147, 148, 166, 158, 182, 185, 187 

214, 217, 224, 236, 243, 252, 253, 2-56, 257 

259. 275 

AVoodman, Joshua 41, 44, 59, 76. 78, 96 

143, 147, 148, IGO, 168, 253, 274, 275, 276 

Woodman, JIartha 257 

Mary 257 

Molly 204 

Moses 191,257.259,207 

" Nathan 48, 6G, 76, 96, 118 

257, 259, 271, 272, 273, 270 

Woodman, Xathan H 205, 216 

Nathaniel 161, 252, 267 

Olive 174,185,220,257 

Paul 252, 257 

" Polly 257 

" Rebecca 49, 184, 185, 253 

" Reliance 257 

" Samuel 

90, 257, 259, 271, 275, 276 

AVoodman, Sarah 183, 230 

Sewall 257 

" Shnbael 148 

" Stephen 230 

" AVilliam 140 

AVoodsum, Abiatha 

181,184,188,274,275,276 

AVoodsum, Doi-cas 1 GO 

John 273 

" Micliael 276 

" Samuel 

96, 181, 188, 272, 273,275, 276 
AVoodsum, Stephen „ 220 

Young. Abigail 147, 234 

" Joseph 2.34 

" Phebe 235 

" Sarah 152 



ERRATA. 

On pfigc 4S, and wlieicvor the name occurs, John ElJcn of Snco 
.should be of Buxton, 
On page 54, depreciated paper currency is an error. 
On page 1G7, James F. Foss should be James T. 
pn same page, Annettee should be Annette. 
On page 2.02, instead of Arch IIi.':';h, should be High Arch Angel. 



